El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-26
SIDE from the number of schools.

"a
"A colleges and universities which
may be said to constitute the di-
rect educational system Of the country,
recognition must be given to the great
number of indirect channels through
which the American people are receiv-
ing a general education that makes
this nation the most intelligent in the
world. These include night schools;
public libraries; home study and cor
respondence courses; lecture courses
of various kinds, including those of the
university extensions; and the various
other means of culture provided by diff
ferent social and philanthropfc agen-
cies.
The First Night Schools.
Quite early in the history of the
country, night schools were organized
to provide educational facilities for
those whose work would not permit
them to attend school In the day time
At first these were Semicharitable
institutions. and in a few the benefit
Charles paid a small stipend towards
their expenses. The attendance upon
these night classes however, demon
strated the need of such instruction,
so that all of the large cities now
have night schools for all those who
are, by their work or age. debarred
from attendance upon the regular day
school AT first these evening or night
schools were purely elementary, but
in many cities they have now deve1-
oped SO far that any line Of work in
troduced in the day schools may be
taken up by the students at night.
These public night schools play very
important part in preparing immi-
grants for American citizenship. It
is not unusual, In some of the large
cities, to find an entire family, father,
mother and adult child. after the COM
pletion of long days work. attend
ing a night school to learn. English
and perhaps to study under teacher
very much younger than themselves
The. night schools for immigrants are
an important part of this department
in many cities, and teachers are sup
piled who can speak different Ian
guages.
Evening Courses of Lectures.
Many Of the universities and colleges
in the large cities supply evening
courses of lectures to enable students
to acquire q professional education
while engaged in wage earning dur
ing the day The city of Washington
perhaps furnishes better facilities for
securing professional education in this
manner than most others. A large per-
centage Of the employees OF. the gov
eminent have taken their positions
with the avowed purpose of securing
There are several Institutions in the
national capital which supply the
same instruction in any desired
branches for the evening classes as
is given to the day school. In Phil
adelphia. Temple university. founded
by the Rev. Russell Conwe1l was es-
tablished with the principal aim ofi
providing instruction for those whose
daily employment prevented their at
dirO l.
though day classes are also in prog
ress. This institution Pres in
struction in medicine. IL rology
and various other profes It is
well equipped and has in Jnnection
we'll regulated hospital which is of
benefit to the medical school.
Libraries Are Numerous.
Partly because of the generosity of
Andrew Carnegie and partly because
of the increasing demand for reading
matter upon the part of all Americans.
there is no country in all the world
500 well equipped with free public
libraries as the United States. The
development of the public library in
this country is responsible for the in
creasing demand for trained librar-
ians. This is a profession now widely
followed, which was comparatively un-
known a generation ago. The admin
istration of libraries has changed
greatly Formerly the books were
carefully boarded, and their use was
a privilege. Now people are con-
stantly urged to take books from the
library and the trained librarian is
ever active in creating a greater de-
mand for books.
Moving Pictures I'm Libraries.
In this connection should be noted
the numerous methods being developed
by libraries to attract the public to
their reading rooms Every well equip
ped library has its free lecture and
entertainments course. and interesting
exhibits of art literature and other
subjects are constantly being made.
Educators are becoming little criti-
cal of some of the methods utilized
by the Libraries to secure audiences
for entertainments OF questionable
educational value. The moving picture
has been added to the equipment of
the public library in several western
cities, and the collection OF subjects
is said to be not always Of educational
value. <A
The tendency Of the librarian has
been largely to discourage fiction
reading among young people and,
whenever possible, to exert an influ-
ence in favor Of a more educative class
of literature A school superintend-
ent has lately expressed himself fore
iUiy CIlltClSIi. IllS- tcnucIICys. 0OW-
ever, claiming that pure, well selected
fiction is much better for the child l
than some. of the socalled, educative
material He called attention to a
number of books on the occult sci
ences, which had lately been added to
the public library of his city. Their
perusal, in his opinion, was much
more detrimental TO the minds of the
high school students than any amount
in he
nous mass of fictitious literature be-
ing turned from the presses each year
has been visiting with her brother, Will
Price, has returned home.
About 20 members of the McGinty
club are preparing for a Brunswick
stew blowout next Sunday.
Mrs. Max Schultz and children will
leave Las Cruces next Monday morn
IN rr-- hot \ T., d.