The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-12-23
the JUVENILE PROBLEM
Fran the Little Red School House to
Modern Social Center.

Back in the Gays OF our grandfath-
ers, and even OF our tdtners, Inc Lit
tie Reu ocnool mouse pidyeu an I'M
pOrtant part IA TIE seIlIvnent OF every
new country. IL was tne sUClai oGn-
ter, as far as tuere WAS one. There
the preached VINO came TO the vicinity,
whether Catholic or Protestant, heiu
services. There was the sunday school
weekly, the old-faSnioned literary, the
young peoples debating society, the
womens mite society, the spelling Dee'
Occasionally came a perlpateuc lee
turer on phrenology WITH MS charts,
a strolling astronomer with MS tele-
scope orEa campaign orator.
On Fourth of july under the trees
besiue 1t, was spread the nelghDuf-
hood dinner, While indoors the paDles
were put to sleep in the corners, Wnlle
busy mothers spread the lunches.
What has caused its abandonment?
Many things. Firstly, the railroad mas
run over II. 1t has brought tne llttle
country village into almost every
neighborhood, or within easy reach OF
it, Here have been built the lodge
rooms, the public halls, where people
may attend functions held there.
Church buildings were erected IN the
country, and the modern equipment OF
school houses is in many instances
unfit for the use of adults.
Rural life has suffered from the
city which has drawn so upon its pop
ulation. None or few of the young
people expect to remain there. and this
makes lack OF the old interest III
neighborhood work.
Now we are coming back. In the next
decade the school house Will play a
part in the public good, in the better
ment OF social conditions in our cities,
that it has never played since the flrst
school was built
The new movement of making our
school houses social centres, and US
ing them for the instruments OF that
deepest and most fundamental educa-
ton, upon which the very existence
of democracy depends is assured OF
success, during the past four years OF
its experimental stage.
The National Education Association
adopted unanimously, in San Fran
cisco, the following resolution:
THE school buildings OF our land
and the grounds surrounding them
should be open to the pupils, their par
ents and families, as recreation ana
educational centres outside school
hours. They should become the radl-
ating centers of social and cultural ac-
tivity in the neighborhood, in a spirit
of civic unity and cooperation Ihey
should give opportunity for continue
ton schools, vacation schools, for IN
dustrial, horticultural and agricultur-
al training. as well as for the educa-
tion of adults through lectures, etc.,
ETC."
Every new enterprise will have its
problems to solve, as will this, but pa
tience and wisdom will overcome them
one after another. and show the prac-
ticability of making of school houses
something beside monuments of neg
lected opportunity Education is the
staunchest bu1wark in a democracy.
What is needed is the enlightenment
of the masses. Who but admits that
the pillars of nation are the church
and the school house! In these places
of indebted liberty, we must make
common meeting places.
The school house is the place owned
by everybody, where nobody can be eX-
cluded, where everybody comes by
right No sectarianism can enter here.
Here will arise new things out or
old, and society will renew itself from
the rank of unknown men, How DO
we know the geniuses in our midst,
furnishing without knowing 1T, far
some free lectures on art or music,
some primal education denied because
of adverse conditions.
Who will go on leading us? Can we
look to the ranks of men already in
authority, to furnish leaders in their
sons for another generation?
Over a Kentucky dusty pike the