The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-06-15

The educational problem which con-
fronts school boards is being solved by
various cities through the material
carrying out of the suggestion he
makes. This problem is the one deal
ing with the education of the children
OF industrial parents. The large per-
centage of these children quit school
before they reach the seventh grade,
not only because their home condi-
tions warrant and require it, but be-
cause they feel ashamed of their per
sonal appearance, he says. These
children prefer to work and earn mon
ey to buy clothing to look as we'll
dressed as other boys and girls.
Principal Ramsey declares that the
school board would be more just and
fair. If instead of spending any more
thousands of dollars on Garfield and
the High school, it would appropriate
sufficient money to better conditions
in the North End.
Ward Schools Suffer.
He says he does not begrudge the
other schools improvement funds, but
believes the ward schools should be
remodeled and renovated first. White
water school has the poorest equip
ment of any of the city, he says, anC
yet it serves the very people who rep
resent the educational problem which
must be solved to increase the stand
ard Of living in municipalities.
In relating instances of conditions
which drastically require improvement
in that school building, he said tina
between forty and fifty children an
nually enter the lowest grade of the
school. OF this number very few en-
roll in Garfield school for seventh
grade study and practically all O
these quit before half of that term is
completed.
Why. he argues in view of this av
erage, should not these pupils be edu
Gated in domestic science, sewing
cooking, manual labor and other cours
es conducive to better citizenship be
fore the law permits them to qui
school. The children are ambitious
the principal says, take interest in th'
work and feel their need of becomin,
proficient in the studies.
Giles Informed.
81 have broached this subject to MI
Giles" said Mr.. Ramsey, "and I be
lieve he will take the matter up will
the school board. There is some tall
of the property north of CARTEL,
school being purchased to permit o
an addition to that school, thereb.
making it Junior high school, Th
course of study in the High school
then would require only three year
instead of four.
This arrangement would be per
fectly satisfactory if the needs of tn
North End and Whitewater did no
necessitate immediate action. White
water has been in need of improve
ment for many years.
whenever the ward schools wante
any Improvement, the poverty cry wa
raised. Now is the logical time whel
the finances of the city and schoo
board will warrant improvement TIL
other ward schools have been re
paired. Whitewater with its individ
ual problem and it's unusual case, ha
never been improved.
"It has the same old heating syster
which is the worst l ever saw, the al
rangement Of seats is not according t
law. the equipment for the most par
is secondhand and the building itsel
is the oldest in the city.
1T was once decided that the builC
ing was so old that it would not just
fy the expenditure of money necessar
to install shower baths and yet tn
baths are absolutely essential to tn
good health of the pupils and the san
tation of the building. The teacher
can relate many instances of childre
living for weeks and even month
without baths.
"The school board should Civ
Whitewater school conditions tho
.ough investigation"