The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-09-05

health, and all the things necessary
for the comfort and welfare OF all
the people. With the reconstruction
will come many difficult and COM
pick problems of government and
civic life to be solved by the people
at the polls, and public opinion Will
be still more powerful than 1t now is.
1t is. therefore, a matter OF the
very greatest Importance, affecting
both our strength in war and our
national welfare when the war Is
over" that the maintenance OF the
schools at their normal efficiency at
least shall "be continued throughout
the war, and that in SO far as the draft
law will permit there should be no
falling of in attendance in element
airy schools, high schools, or colleges.
To do this will require of the tax
payers larger tax levies, that Nhe
salaries of teachers may be increased
TO meet, at least to some extent, the
increase in the cost OF living, 30 that
the work of the schools may not be
lowered through the loss OF the bet
ter teachers; patriotism on the part
of the teachers. compelling them to
continue to render this high form Of
service for the good Of the country in
the face of temptations to leave the
schoolroom for more remunerative
but less important service elsewhere;
self-denial and careful Management
on the part of parents to keep their
children in school beyond the COM
pulsory attendance period, when the
wages they might receive for their
work are needed for the support of
the family: wisdom on the part OF
school OFFICERS that the courses of
study may be wisely adjusted to the
new needs. and the sessions and regi-
men of the schools be adapted to the
industrial need of the communities
which they serve, and the heartiest
possible cooperation of all, ito the
end that no boy or girl may have
less opportunity for education be-
cause of the war, and that the ma
ton may be strengthened as it can
only be through the right education
of all its people"
Army Of Pupils.
, When the registration Of the men of
the country between the ages Of eight
cen and forty-fiVe has been completed,
there will be on the rolls Of the pro-
vost marshal general a possible army
Of $4,000 900 men How many of these
will be called for active service IT is
now impossible to tell. We do notyet
know how large an army will be neeu-
ed over there to win the war for free
dom and democracy. On the rolls of
the school censuses OF the several
States of the Union are the names Of
Is, 00o, 900 children between the ages of
six and eighteen. the elementary and
high school ages, and nearly 5000 900
between the ages OF four and six,
the kindergarten ages. We should be
able to say quite definitely how many
of these will be actively enrolled
in the schools, for we do know now
how many of them will need the best
education we can give them to win
the war for efficient democracy and
for real freedom when the other war
is ended, so that those who die over
there shall not have died in vain"
Last year nearly $4,000, 900 boys and
girls were enrolled in the public, pri- |
vate, and parochial schools of the |
Let us make sure that the |
shall not be smaller this year.
but larger.
Let us accomplish both our great
tasks fully and well.