Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-01-27
SCH00LHOUSES
'
AS CENTERS
Seats Of Education For Both
Adults and Children.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

There Is a Pronounced and Growing
Sentiment to Extend the Uses of
Public Schools and Make Them More
Valuable to the Public at Largo.
Until very recently millions of dol
lars We're tied up i'll public school prop
erty, paid for in large part by the peo-
pie Of small means and utilized for
only from five to seven hours IL day in
the week and nine months in the year.
a total of not more than 1,4OO hours q
year, and closed through the remaining
S,76O hours of the year.
The public school funds, again Il levy
upon the small householder, were used
solely for the regular school work,
meaning for the most part the ele-
mentary education of young children.
Every effort to open the schools for
night classes Or for any other purpose
imam that Of Ii set routine OF the pre-
scribed school period met with yiror-
Gus opposition. Attempts to make a
better utilization of the school plants
were regarded as almost sacrilegious.
Pupils were turned out when they
had finished the sixth grade or the
grammar school or the fortunate few
when they had graduated from the
high school, and the public schools had
no further concern with them. In the
last decade. however. there has been
a pronounced and growing sentiment
in favor Of getting better value for il
larger part Of the population out or Tie
expensive American public school sys-
ten
All over the country there has come,
slowly. but surely, the new order which
makes The schoolhouscs seats of edu-
cation. not only for Il very few pupils
during n short period. but for persons
OF all ages who wish to learn man.
Things which are not set down in the
ordinary public school curriculum.
Also in most cities and large towns the
schoolhouscs are used for civic and So
cial purposes, for immigrant classes
and instructor in casting the ballot,
Tor concerts. lectures and dances and
for parent-teacher associations.
10 show how widely this movement
has extended. where the greatest adj
vantage accrued and where the most
remained to be done Il survey was
made by c. A. Perry Of the Russell
Sage foundation and published by the
United States bureau Of education.
MIR. Perry calls attention to the fact
that it is a common habit to think Of
the activities that go on in the class
room as in some essential way differ
ent from those which so on in the par
lor. the office Or the shop. Because Of
the imposing and intricate machinery
Of modern education one loses sight Of
the fact that nothing is done in school
that is not done outside. Boys and
girls pick up a knowledge of letters
and local geography before they go to
school. With every one learning be-
gins before school days and continues
afterward.
The distinctive work of the school
room is to make certain common activ-
tiles go better than they ordinarily do
apart from it. Its efficacy was first ap-
preclated by the church. AS democracy
developed and the participation Of the
people III the affairs Of government in
creased concern was felt as to the wis
dom and intelligence which the masses
would display in the exercise of suf-
frage. The instruction given in the
homes and by the church and private
agencies was not sufficient to insure
the adequate education of the citizens.
The lack of uniformity in education
was especially bad. and the public
schools were instituted to better con-
ditions.
The statistics that Mr.. Perry collect
ed in various parts of the country show
that new and varied activities have
come within the environment and I'M
der the control of public education.
MI. Perry thus translates their sicnii-
canoe: DO they show that lectures ar$
held in schools? 1t means that new
canals have been dug to facilitate COM
mercc in the worlds stores of knowl-
edge. Do they reveal parent-teacher
gatherings in c~lassrooms? Society is
getting team work between the home
and the school. Political rallies and
voting? The seat of democracy is be-
ing transferred from the back hall and
the barber shop to more suitable quar-
ters. The games Of boys and girls?
Childhood is beginning to receive intel
l1gent consideration. Youths and maid
ems consorting in school halls and gym
nasiums? Instincts of racial impor-
lance are being cherished instead OF
exploited. The figures roughly profile
q ground swell Of social effort