The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-05-18

contrast to the people dSSeLAulCu AoA
the institute, one pious old soul con
tended that it was perfectly tlttlng
that the House of the Lord should
receive more attention than the
schoolhouse, but | rejOined that IL was
The church members, parents OF the
school children, not the Deity, VINO
enioyed those comfortable seats anu
beautiful surroundings, and that l De-
lieved the God of little children
would not accept the worship OF those
who treat their children In tnlS way:
The child's temple should be beautllul
as no other Women can bring TINS
about and should start campaign 10
that end.
But before doing anything they
must know What they want TO 90:
Let me draw you a mental picture ol
what country schoolhouse should De;
In the first place the country chllu
must have as good an opportunity lor
education rs the city child why
does a city child need two months
more of schooling in year than the
country child? Why does a teacher
in the city, who is given Definite
piece of work to do, need more pro-
fessional knowledge than the one VINO
Iakes up work II the country school
and has often to teach AL subjects IN
all the grades? The country school
term should be as long as the city one
and every child in the country shoulo
have the opportunity to attend school
as many days in the year as the city
child. In fact, the cities should have
longer school term. The comm
ission sent from Germany to study
American schools, opened its report
with the statement that the chief fea-
ture of the American school sys-
tenn is the vacation. The county
schools of Ontario are open 20 days
in the year, of Germany 225 to $40
days. and in Australia and New Zea-
LAND they are open $50 days. Inc
school term in the United states Is
shorter than the term in the Philip
pine Islands or Porto Rico, although
in those places there is a long term
for few rather than shorter term
for all. Your negro children In
| Maryland 60 to school 14O days IN
! the year Why should negro child
rem require less than the white? Ii
seems remarkable that those who
need the most should get the least.
! Secondly, all children should attend
school when it is in session, except
for a good reason, and * the money
appropriated for the purpose OF hold
ing the schools Is not used, advise
getting out an injunction" There
is waste in employing teacher to
instruct 80 children when only 20
children attend, and an injustice in
volved when the children who attend
regularly are kept back by the lag
CARDS who come only now and then
The children In a democracy
have the right to an education
which will prepare them for the dut-
! les and rights OF citizenship, and tc
make an honest living. They have
right to be developed into we'll,
rounded human beings, and liz there
are parents avaricious enough to wish
to make their children their slaves
some one must protect the rights OF the
child. The sentiment must be made
! so that man will hide his head as il
for crime if he does not send his
child to school when he can, and thus
| take away the child's opportunity
for acquiring what will fit him for the
best kind of citizenship and for INTEL
! igent living, for the sake of little
| profit.
The third requisite for the good
school is of course the good teacher
the seed-corn of civilization" The
farmer is willing to buy seed-wheat al
two or three times as much as biscul'
wheat. whatsoever a man sowetf
that shall he also reap" holds gooC
in the case of the school teacher
The next generation Of children