La Junta tribune., 1917-05-10
SCHOOlHOUsES
AS CENTERS
Seats Of Education For Both
Adults and Children.
COMMUnITYMEETIMePL PLACES

There is . Pronounced and Growing
Sentiment to Extend the Uses Of
1 Public Schools and Make Thsm More
Valuable to the Public At Large.
Until very recently millions Of dol
lars were tied up In public school prop.
erty, paid for In large part by the peo-
pie Of small means and utilized for
only from five 10 seven hours day In
the week and nine months In the year,
total OF not more than 400 hours a
year. and closed through the remaining
s,710 hours OF the year.
The public school funds. again levy
upon the small house holder, 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
than that Of the set routine OF the pre-.
scribed school period met with vigor
Gus opposition. Attempts to make 4
better utilization Of the school plants
were regarded as almost sacrilegious.
Pupils were turned out when they
hal finished the sixth grade or the
4 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
larger part Of the popula ton out OF the
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 csiu.
cation, not only for very few pupils
during short period. but for persons
OF all uges who wish TO learn many
things which are not act down In the
ordinary public school curriculum.
Also In most cities and large towns the
schoolhouses are used for civic and so.
cial purposes, for Immigrant classes
and instruction In casting the ballot.
for concerts, lectures and dances and
for parentteacher associations.
To show how widely this movement
has extended. where the greatest ad-
vantage accrued and where the most
remained TO be done a survey was
made by c. A. Perry Of the Russell
Sage foundation and published by the
United States bureau OF education.
Mr.. Perry calls attention TO the fact
that II is common habit to think OF
the activities that 90 ON in the class
room as In some essential way differ.
ent from those which 20 on In the par
lor, the office or the shop. Because Of
the imposing aud 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 knowledge Of letters
and local geography before they 20 to
school With every one learning be.
gins before school days and continues
aftcrward.
The distinctive work OF the school.
room II TO make certain common actly.
tiles 30 better than they ordinarily do
spart from II. Its efficacy was first ap.
prcciaied by the church. As democracy
developed and the participation OF the
people In the Affairs OF government In.
creased concern was felt as TO the wis.
dom and intelligence which the masse,
would display In the exercise OF SUI.
frage. The instruction given In the
holmes and by the church and private
agencies was not sufficient 90 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 sta .iFtlcs that Mr.. Perry collect.
ed In various parts OF the country show
that new and varied activities hay.
come within the environment aud un.
der the control OF public education
Mr.. Ferry thus translates their slgnlh
canoe: DO they show that lectures are
held In schoolsf II means that new
canals have been dug TO facilitate coin.
mcrcc In the worlds stores OF knowl.
edge. DO they reveal pnrcnt.tcacher
gatherings In classroomsi Society 4.
getting team work between the homo
and the school. Political rallies ana
voting' The seat Of democracy Is be
Ing transferred from the back hall and
the barber shop 20 more suitable quar-.
ters- The games Of boys and girlsi
Childhood II beginning TO receive intel
liscnt consideration. Youths aud maid.
ems consorting In school halls and gym.
nasiutns! Instincts of racial impor.
sancc arc being cherished instcnd Of
exploited. The figures roughly profile
ground swell Of social effort"