The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-11-15


simple expereMce:' 1Another is that
all school work is by necessity artii-
ciaI. isolated from life. even from the
life OF the family. and. SO. abstract.
Democracy must have its distinc-
tive institution for the stimulation
and development OF the community
spirit.
This institution must be free from
limitations it must appeal to relative
ly mature minds dealing with the
actual experiences Of community life.
Furthermore, it must be in itself a
iealiZatiOn Of democracy not mere
" non-excusiye, but positively all
inclusive.
"Thc relation of this institution
to the community life as a whole
must not be artificial or abstract. but
vital, exercising real initiative. deal
ing with actual problems, with q.
view to real bettermcnt of commun !
ity life"
mas, summarized by one familiar{
with every detail Al the Rochester,
experiment E"tIfo deepest purpose #
the .Iiovt9n0nt WAS to make eacIls
ncighborhoOd conscious OF its civit5
functions AND powers" --to give me'ts
and women the ''tec1" Of being ctti-
zens. getting back to the old bank
er's apt expression.
That it did this is best evidenced
by the results From the start the
meetings were crowded All classes
Of citizens attended and all classes
! Joined in the discussion Of city aE-
fairs or whatever might be under
consideration. An interesting side
light was the fact that the most con-
gcstcd quarter of the city, with u
large foreign element in the popuIa
ton and, Judged by conventional
standards lacking in education, cul-
turc and material wclI-being, proved
to bc'thormghly responsive
Matters 81 general interest were
land still are discussed y with just
Esuch freedom as once made the New
England town meeting bulwaHk of
democracy. ii it seems necessary
that a public official should explain
something, he is asked to do so.
None ever has declined the Invitation
for the people behind it are the pro-
pie behind the ballots.
When the EraftrrS and the lords
of special privilege who saw how
their prospcctsc were being under
mined tried to put Il stop to this
Edcmoclalizing agency by cutting OF
the appropriation covering the small
expenses, there was such Il howl from
,he whole mass OF the people that
the attempt was partially abandon
ed, But when the board Of educa-
ton ANNOUNCED that, owing to the re-
Guced appropriation, the season
would have to be shortened, every
man and woman engaged in this pub
lie service offered to and actually did
give services without compensation.
The results Of this movement con-
Sist not only in an awakened com
m.nity spirit and a new feeling OF
ncighborlineSS. but in better public
service in every department Of tue
city government. The lessons taught
Through the meetings. have effected.
a, saving OF life rs. well as of .M9neey4i,
Ilustruction in sanitation has reHur,,
ed the citys, death rate. and, the prev.
'lalencc of contagious diseases. III
But its material results are SrS7i
oudary to those OF Il higher and moro nor
lasting nature. Rochester'S PUBLIC.
IschocI buildings haze become active
instruments of that fundamental cd
ucatlon upon which the very exist
cncr of democracy depends.
"ln proportion as the structure OF
government gives force to public
opinion, it Is essential that public
opinion should be enlightened, sal"
washington. And this opening OF
the public schools is proving to ,"
the hest and most agreeable Of meth
DDS for cnlightening public opinion
philadclpha's unrcalized possible
tiles in this direction should CAUSE
every thinking person in tho city TO
pausc to consider tho matter.
Here are two hundred large build
ings, ideally located for social center
|nurposcs, which are standing idle
nearly every evening during th"
year. In cold weather they stand
idle and heated, but none gets III"
benefit Of that warmth. no matter
how many may be shivering in COLI
rooms in fthr very shadow Of the
school hOus0,walls or how many may
have S0ught,warmth and social inter
COurSc--rwith ,i"instTuctton" as to
lriTic, duties on the SidC--tn nearby
SALOONS or questionable dance halls
and playhou%s.
Most of these buildings could be
Imadc to serve as ideal ccntcrS for the
social and civic activities of the con-
ImuniticS which are, in part, served
by them for Il part Of the time. As
ITO the expense attached, 1t Is not To
be considered when one things Of I'll"
saving to the community in the cost