New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-07-04


al education is not so much more
expensive than other educations
as has been imagined. In re-
cent annual report for Boston, 1t
was shown that the cost per pupil
per wear in the English High
School was $S3.O5; in the High
School of Commerce, $500; III
the School of Practical Arts,
1886; and in the Trade School
for Girls $101. S5. The CONNER
cial and Practical Arts High
Schools, as we'll as the Trade
School fir Girls are at least part
ly vocational, yet the cost per
pupil is very little more than III
the English High School which
is not vocational. If produo-
tive shop is maintained, the cost
may be even less than for non
vocational schools. In Roches-
ter. New York, the shop schools
with productive shopwork, ave-
rage cost per pupil for 1928
for two high schools was $7o.lS;
for three shop schools with pro-
ductive shopswork, only $72.l5-
an actual gain for the vocational
schools. In no case will the voca-
tional education Of those prepar-
ing for wage earning Industries
and other vocations approach the
cost of education for the profess
sions. In few cases will the pupil
remain in a vocational course ON
school more than three years be-
yond the eighth grade. When
prevocational school work is be-
gun in the seventh grade, the
reat majority of the pupils will
remain or from two to four year S
work. As better opportunities
are offered for advanced work
some will remain for courses
equivalent to the full high school
courses. But even for these. the
cost to the tax payers will not
be much greater than for regular
high school $0udents-approxl-
matelv $4,000 to 100000. Com
pairing this with the 81, 10000 for
the lawyer or doctor, it does not
look at all extravagant. 1t IS
surely hard to think of our edu-
cational system as really demo
cratic if it will freely furnish tn
education including full voca-
tional training costing over ST.
10000 to those selecting profess
sional caDlings, and deny those
selecting other callings any voca-
tional educa alton whatevr and
spending for them not more than
from one-third to one-half as
much money. -
To the hundred Of thousands
of men and women who provide
us with our food, our clothing,
our shelter. our means Of travel,
our machines, our tools, and d
hundred other things which give
us our creature comforts, say
it is the right under our demo
cratic ideals of equality and res
sponsibility that you and your
children should be given the ed
ucation that will make you in
telligent, self supporting, and
happy citizens. The public School
has been established to do this
verv thing. 1t is not only your
right, but it is your duty to see
that they do it. We want the
state to pay for the vocational
training of doctors and lawyers
and engineers and teach ers. Bel
we want. and we believe with jusI
as much right, that it should also
pay for equally good vocational
education and training for car
penters, and brick layers, anc
foundrymen, and pattern max
ers. and machinists. and miliners
/ I'd dress makers, and cooks, an(
all other industrial workers. i
is all justified because it all pays
It pays both the worker and thu
state in money, in useful citizen
ship, in better standards of life
and in the enjoyment of all thu
blessings which these insure. Thu
public school is the only institr,
ton for making this education
universal. No small proportion
of the taxes Importing the pubh'
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