The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-02
Welfare of State Depends
On Education ofChildren

! terested IN the education Of all. The
welfare of the state depends alike on this
education OF all.
Among the factors entering into op.
OF the children OF the state are:
!. Length OF annual school term.
.. The number of years In the school
course. that 10. whether II ends with
sever, or eight years q elementary
four years OF high school.
| 3. Enrolment and attendance.
| I. Equipment and buildings.
| s. Course OF study and their adap-
tation to the needs and conditions OF the
people.
&. (The most important Of ally. The
character and preparation of the teach
| ers.
II Is generally admitted that the an
nual length OF school term should not
be less than 1870 days. The average for
Tennessee and other states with short
terms. Ia i6i days The average for
Tennessee is l4O days. For the city
schools Of the state the average IL 1870
days For the city schools OF the state
ether states .ts with short s terms. y is d
days or the city schools OF the state
the average IL $50 days. for the country
schools less than 100 days. To bring the
for many counties II Is less than 100
days, and for N, many Of the &c. country try
rural schools OF the state up 10 the
minimum standard OF 1870 days will re-
quire an average addition OF three
| months. In some counties II will re-
uuire an addition OF four months and
n a few a still larger addition; ] be-
lieve. however. no patriotic Tonnes.
sean who understands the relation OF
education to Individual development and
happiness. to public welfare and to the
strength and safety OF state and nation
win be content with anythIpg less than
this low minimum OF $50 DAYS.
In nearly all the states d the Union
| twelve years, eight pf elementary
school and four OF high school. modified
| In recent years In some places by max
ing the division at the end OF the six
years so rs 10 include six years In the
elementary. school and six years IN the
| high school. In most OF the cities OF
| Tennessee, believe, the elementary
school includes only seven years and
| the high school four years, making a
| total of eleven years Tho same Is true
| In theory for the rural school, but ow-
| ing TO the ahortness OF the annual
school terms. II ia practically impossi-
BILE in many of tho counties OF the
state for children ever to get the full
amount OF seven years OF nine months
| each. or sixty-three months. With n
| school term OF only six months, this
viii require ton and n half months:
! with a school term of Ave months, II
win require more than twelve years.
| In those counties having still shorter
annual terms the time necessary for
| the completion OF the sixty-three
months would he still longer. In all
| counties and districts Il would take
stil longer 20 complete the equivalent
! Of eight years of nine months each.
This would, for a majority OF the boys
| and girls In the state, leave little time
| for the high school, even n adequate
| high school facilities were In existence.
| AZ present the high school enrolment
" small as compared with other states
and with the country at large An ar
tlole in this series viii be devoted 20
| the subject.
In enrolment Of children In the
schools arc sufficiently well equipped
| ably with other states The per cent.
| OF the total population Of school age
enrolled Ia larger than IN many states.