Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-01-09

BROWNSVILLE NEEDS NIGHT
SCHOOLS.

Brownsville ~ doing more today than It
had ever before attempted. perhaps. in the
way of atiording the school children III the
city the best public school advantages that
money and skill can give. The city has
fine schools. taught by excellent teach
err. The introduction of manual training
INTO the high school classes. for bows. ~
another forward step and supplements Tor
that sex the domestic science training be-
ing given the girls. Both departments are
equipped with n thorouehue,S that brings
the Brownsville high school up To the point
of being a model. Before this term l.,
completed ID ~ expected to have the aeri-
cultural classes under way on the school
domun~tration farm gt the north side of
the building.
What the civ needs now. and needs ur-
gently. j. schools for the benefit of bows
and eirl9 vino have to support or help sup
port themselves and families by working
during school hours. The city also needs
free schools for the benefit of older per
sons who lacked the opportunity in their
childhood 10 obtain the rudiments of Eng
li~h education. IN accentuated need III
pcrccptihlc for CLASSES M which the for
cisn population may learn English and
may be drilled IN the rudiment- of Ameri-
can political, social and civil institutions.
The greater part of the population III
Brownsville and "a large per cent If the
population Of the county = made up of
people of the Mexican race. both native III
the country and those who have come here
from Mexico. Only \ very small percent
age of these speak any English at an.
Their ideas and customs are foreign and
their point of view IN political and govern
mental affairs j. foreign.
Even many Of thc children Vt these fam
lilies attend English schools for several
years Of their lives and - back to their
homes and their people carrying little idea
Of the English language with them. They
hear only Spanish IL their homes and lit-
tie other than Spanish on the Fairgrounds
nj school. The teachers usually can speak
Spanish and use that language. il +
claimed, in many Instances III the lower
grades, in explaining the lesson to the
Spanish speaking pupils.
Economic necessities cause these pupils
to leave school early. They have 10 en-
ploy themselves early.
A. 4 result ~ these conditions the vote
OF cameron county and of Brownsville.
that decides al questions Of government.
controlled by an element that speaks no
4 -'i-h and knows nothing, practically. II
rican Institutions beyond their knowl-
ot how to scratch and east a vote.
lead of being an asset "a the city and
oodnty, 4 large part of the population J.
thus \ liability, and u grave liability Nj
that.
The taxpayers owe ii to themselves. If
not to the foreign born element among the
population. 10 STE 10 IT that the latter an
least have an opportunity To learn Eng
lish. TIL school buildings Of the city. rep
rcsenting I'M expenditure OF more than
100000 upon which the taxpayers are
paying interest, are die much OF the time.
BY conducting night classes III some "
thcSa school buildings certain nights in the
week, a way would al least he begun for
solHang the foreign population problem. In
many OF the cities OF the country night
schools OF this kind are attended not only
by younger people who work during the
day. but ~ many old r people. The mon
ey :expanded through the public school
system j. Tor educational purposes and il
should be made 10 sitain that result. 1t
should be ma le to reach even the grown
up people who -tii! need ridimentarv edu-
catsaL..