The evening world., 1917-03-12
PRESENT USE OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TOO RESTRICTED.

We need
PRESENT USE OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TOO RESTRICTED.
"Howevsr, in spite Of the most
patriotic intentions on the part
OF school trustees and private
individuals, the resources OF
common undsrsta ndinp and
Amsrieanism which inhers in
the proper adult use Of the oom-
mon sehoolhouses are not being
developed and can not be dsve-
oped without the enactment Of
such . measure ss 10 here pro.
posed.
"Ths common sohoolhouses
throughout the country have
beer from the BEGINNING and ere
now buildings from which the
bsnsfit,' not only through their
use for the formal instruction Of
children during the day and for
the instruction Of children and
others in evening schools, but
through their on-instruotional
use for adult assemblies OF vari-
Gus kinds.
but, except 80 these buildings
are used for legally constituted
district school meetings, or whore
suoh legislation - 10 here pro-
posed 10 in operation. this adult
use 10 planlsss, haphaxard. un.
fruitful Of real community ad-
vantage, and totally Inconsistent
with the proper dignity and uni
fyinu service Of the public school.
"The bill In simply the definite re-
nulrement upon tho school trustees
that they shall serve the properly
expressed and appropriate educa-
tional needs OF the adult citizens, as
now the law requires them to serve
the instructlonal needs OF the chill
dren.
"There In no resource OF any State
greater than its latent civic intelli-
gence. This legislation provides the
way In which this greatest OF all re-
nolrcea i'm a democracy may be de-
yeloped in an economical, construc-
tive, consistent and practical man
ner.
'in this bill the membership OF thu
forum organization ~ no
10 voters or even 10 citlLens
The reason for suggesting the inoiu
sion of all adult residents or pubic
school district in the organisation !,
that by including the prospective e'
munity forum becomes automatlcallN
a most effective agency OF American
ization. Aov
"For the recent immigrant to haV'
an opportunity 10 participate IN suol
a neighborhood association ls no
only 10 give him an opportunity t'
make whatever contribution no cai
70 the intelligence OF tho community
but is TO make America mean some
thing real to him. o,
Much thought. energy and none!
IS being spent upon the proDleu -
II Is douotlui
whether any other agency or az
other agencies together can serve ,ni'
great purpose more eftectiVely tna,
the community forum organlhatio'
for which this bill provides.
OLD DISTRICT SCHOOL, Ipt'
WITH AN IMPRC VEMENT.
"All questions as TO the feasibilit!
OF the community-forun assembly o
adult citizens In tho schoolhouse 70
the orderly free discussion OF puoh
questions are answered atfirmatiNel!
and conclusively by the Nations ex
perlence In the district school meet
ing. -
However, 1t is important 20 no
tlce tho distinctions between that oIu
established institution and the com
munity-forum organization for whicl
this measure provides. The distric
school meeting was the deliberatlV
assembly OF men and women b,
TO discuss and decid
only a limited range OF public cues
tions arbitrarily regarded as pertain
ing merely TO the local community In
stitution.
I'm the schoolhouse forum provides
for in this bill men and women ma
assent BILE by communities to conside
and develop understanding concern
ing county or municipal, State an
national matters OF public welfare, a
we'll as those OF local neighborhoo'
character.
"The district school meeting wa
and Is, as rule, but an annual com
munity gathering. The forum ns
sembly OF the citizens for which thi
bill provides may be in session often
"Ths district school meeting
was and 10 somstimes . merely
formal, dry, unintsrestlng oeea-
sion. The community forum for
which this measure provides 10
likely TO become the Vsry centre
OF vital and wholesome interest
and benefit 20 tho people"