The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-25

N HE private school Is unnerstoou
in general to include all schools
that are not supported directly
by taxes laid upon the public-the
private venture school n the en-
lowed school. Necessarily there Is al
ways a charge for tuition in the private
school. but some OF the endowed SCHOOLS
are able to afford a very low tuition
to their patrons. Some of them are day
schools some boarding schools and
some take both day and boarding pupils.
II is very likely that any one who
turns for the first time to the statistics
given In the report OF the United states
Commissi ,ner OF Education for 1918 or
1914 would be very much surprised
when he discovers that the number OF
students in the secondary public schools
Is only about Ave times as great as the
number OF students in the private Sec
ondary schools. think that II one who
has not stopped to make inquiry were
asked 10. the ratio existing between the
two classes of schools he might make a
guess of ten or even of a hunderd to
one. III we accept tHt hbul'S VI NV
Commissioner as correct the private
school is assuming a much larger part
in our system OF education than IL gem
orally known, and II Is very probable
that the Importance OF the private
school In our scheme OF education IL not
appreciated as fully "a II deserves. The
public is relieved OF a very considerable
cost Of education and the work Is being
lone with the highest efficiency.
In the present crowded condition OF
the high schools In many cities and
towns the private schools have a large
part in making the conditions OF the
public schools even as tolerable as they
are. II for some reason all the students
in the private schools were suddenly re-
turned to the public school system the
schools would at once be brought 10 a
condition OF stagnation through the
overcrowding and Efficient work would
be impossible. In other words, the pri-
waite school,. assuming hat 1t is doing
its work approximately as well as the
public school and considering only num-
hers. Is bearing one-hfth as much ex-
perse In the education OF the boys and
girls ranging in age from II to II years
as the great public schools OF the coun-
try. This burden IL wholly or largely
carried NJ private expense.
However. the cos; of the education
for each boy or girl in a private school
!. much greater than the cost for each
boy or girl in the public school, SO that
the ratio Of Ave 10 one hardly holds
when the matter OF expense is consid-
cred or the appogtionment between the
public and private contribution to the
education OF the boys and girls In the
secondary stage OF education.
Many OF the private schools provide
the most complete equipment and en-
pioy high salaried teachers, but the
main difference OF cost In the education
Z OF the student IN the different types OF
schools IL due not TO the large and com
[, plete equipment nor 10 the salaries paid
To zach teacher hut to the smaller num-
her Of students taught by each teacher,
II Is not uncommon to Inc classes In the
public schools ranging from thirty 10
nfty members for every teacher. In the
private schools the ratio OF teacher 10
pupils ranges from six 10 ten. There
fore II Is readily seen that the ratio OF
teachers 10 the number Of students IL
very much greater in the private school
thar IL Is In the public school. II
statistics were available exhibiting the
cost OF tuition per pupil in the private
school II would very readily establish
the fact that those who promote and
maintain the private Schools are bearing
a very large part OF the expense " the
education OF the boys and girls now re-
ceiving secondary education
With these facts before the mind the
question very promptly arises What
is the necessity OF the private school
that just!Acs patrons OF such schools
I'm assuming 80 large a part OF the
burden in our scheme 81 education? Is
there any real need for the private
school" Cannot all these boys and girls
he just as we'll educated In the public
school? Is there an unconscious pur-
pose 81 creating an exclusive class? Oh
do well 20 do parents assume this ex-
pense simply because they believe that
the private school affords "A better edu-
cation for their children than the public
school In my experience Of thirty
wears in two private schools. both of
them endowed in part. ] believe have
not known any student who was placed
I'm either OF the schools for the first
reason. Neither do | recall many pa
irons that would accept an affirmative
answer to the second question as a
general proposition.
However, the private school is q neCes-
sity in our scheme OF education for
reasons not included or closely related
10 either one or two OF those suggested
above.
First There are many bright children
Of the adOlescent age that are exceed
ingly tirnid and nervous. II at the
same time they are thoughtful and anx-
ious to learn they feel oppressed in a
mixed class OF from thirty To Atty boys
end girls. such r child may attend
carefully to what the teacher says or
what his fellows say in recitation, but
II Is impossible for him to attempt the
expression of an opinion or to ask a
question unless 1t is found in the con-