The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-05-14
BY p. P. CLAYTON.

GIL 5. Commissioner Of l1ducationJ
In the cities, towns, manufacturing
villages and unincorporared suburban
communities Of the United States there
are approximately 13,OOO,OOO children
between the ages OF and 90 OF
these, more than 100000 are enrolled
in the public private schools, The av-
erage daily attendance is about $780,
600 These children are taught by
more than 100000 teachers, at an an
>nual cost for all purposes Of about
$300.000,000. The city schools are in
session about $50 days in the year.
The average daily session is five
days. Children who attend school reg
ularly and without tardiness have 900
hours of schooling in the year. The
average attendance OF those enrolled
is l20 days, or 900 hours. There are
in the year $3.50 hours, 511O waking
hours for children who sleep 10 hours
a day Children whose attendance is
only about one third of the waking
hours Of 100 days with no attendance
on 245 days Children who attend all
Of the school hours of the year are in
school 900 hours, and out of school
4200 waking hours; the average is 500
hours in school and 1910 waking hours
out of the school
Probably per cent Of the school
children of the cities and towns and
suburban communities 30 away during
the summer to the country and sum
mere resorts: 10 per cent or less have
some useful occupation through the
vacation months, and 50 per cent or
more are at home without useful oc-
cupation. They spend the time in
id!eness on the streets and alleys with
cur guidance on vacant lots, or swell
ter in crowded houses and on super
heated streets Much that was learned
ia school at preyions sessions is for-
gotten many of the children become
criminals. and still more form habits
Of idleness
The schools, which are established
and maintained for the purpose OF ed
ucating children into manhood and
womanhood. Of preparing them for
society and citizenship, and of giving
them such knowledge and training as
will enable them to make an honest
living. should provide some kind Of
instruction for the great mass Of these
children through what is now, in most
cities, a long, wasteful vacation | be-
lieve no one win claim that the addi-
tion Of 400 or 500 hours to the number
now spent in school would be a burden
TO any child The addition Of three
school months OF five hours day
would mean only 300 hours to the
school year TO children attending reg
ularly and promptly, and only POO
hours TO the average child on the basis
Of present attendance This would
give 1900 hours for children attending
the full time and 500 hours for the
average child; Of course much less
than this for many.
Possibly the school day in The sum
mer session should be nor more than
four hours that is from or 8 o'clock |
to II or y O'Clock in the forenoon.
School work can be much better done ,
during these hours in the summer than
III the present school hours OF the win |
ter months. Attendance is easier and
buildings do not need to be heated
Where such a program is organized,
it may be found necessary to change
the school work. so as to give more
and shop work during the
sessions than in the winter
and less Of the ordinary book work
Children attending the summer session
under these conditions would, no
doubt be much happier and healthier
than they are turned loose, with moth
ing to do, on the streets and alleys. II
is a mistake to suppose that children
do not ike to work All children do
like to work at whatever is Of real
benefit to them until they learn to be
Idle
A number Of careful studies madein
different parts Of the country and IN
schools Of different kinds indicate that
really do not study in school
more than an average OF three hours
/ day. whatever may be the length Of
he daily session. For children in the
grades. the time is less: fot
he high school grades, somewhat
nore That includes not only the
ime which children give to their
fudies out OF class, but the time in