Evening journal., 1911-09-29
Peoples Column
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND SCHOOL HOUSES
By WlIIInm Canby Ter1is.

BY William Candy Ferris.
The opening Of the schools in
Wilmington turns our thoughts to ed
ueation and the advances that have
been made of late in other cities A
great question has arisen in the minds
Of many thinkers as to the value of
the education received at our public
schools. One city at least has de-
cided to use the school houses built
by the money Of its taxpayers; more
than ever before, and in different
directions.
That city is Berkeley. California.
In the past its public schools have
been used just as the public schools
of our own city of Wilmington have
been used; TO instruct the youth in
what has been handed down from the
past. Their time has been taken up
on studying the history. the religion,
the morality. the biography, tho pol
itical achievements Of former genera
fions. As consequence our boys and
girls graduate from our high schools
and are forced at once into the fierce
competition Of the labor market, and
into the political strife Of our times,
mentally, morally, and physically un-
fitted TO understand the great prob
lens with which they are suddenly
brought face to face.
Berkeley has decided to use its
school houses as places where the
people may receive education to fit
them to understand the social and
industrial conditions, under which
every one is required to make living
After the school houses of Berkeley
have been used for the youth during
the day they will he again thrown
open in the evening for the use of the
taxpayers whose money went to
build them. Berkeley has awakened
10 the fact that an army Of adult
women and men, feel the need of a
higher and broader education. Under
it's new Mayor l. Stitt Wilson the
school houses of Berkeley will be
used for adult evening schools for
popular lectures on Science. litera-
ture. history, travel, economics, eivics,
sanitation, hygiene and a wide range
of other subjects.
Meetings and discussions will also
take place open to any club or for the
discussion of any subject connected
with the public welfare
But the city of Berkeley has de-
cided also that the school houses of
the city shall be made the central
rallying point for the cultivation Of
neighborliness and friendliness. and
for civic cooperation and betterment.
Even musical entertainments. dances.
and amateur theatricals will be oc-
casionally held in the school houses,
for the new Mayors administration
recognizes. the needs of its citizens >as
OF prime Importance. and every effort
will be made TO meet every require
ment Of it's citizens.
Now our own city of Wilmington
might we'll open many of its school
houses which are filed with schol-
ars during the day, for discussion of
subjects OF vital importance, such as
the Initiative and Referendum. The
high school building has already been
thrown open TO the Civic Federation
and If every school house in the city
were used as place for instructins
voters on the problems of city gov
ernment and how they can best b.
solved our own. city of Wilmington
would soon rank as one of the mos
progressive of cities, and the ney
Charter now under consideration
would be a model of a city chartei
10 is only ignorance on matters G
city government that we have TO fear
and The free use Of our school house
for speakers on the Initiative an
Referendum would dispel that ignoi
ance.