The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-03-10
WOMEN Of LAKELAND
START BALL ROLLING


CONTINUED from Page H.
This is the variable quality and may
be made to approach zero as the
limit, or to increase without bounds.
Let US imagine that all education
has pass Il away; that we forget all
specific and general information
medicine, science, reading. writing,
mathematics; that the barrier between
us and barbarism is waited into the
unknown What do you suppose will
happen then? All wealth. all pro-
greSS, all inventions of any type will
be no more. 1t is reported that 80
per cent Of the wealth of this coun-
try is due to we'll conducted secondary
ard higher Institutions Of learning,
Therefore, we must educate the peo-
pie to the highest quality and degree
ot production in order that we may
/ pay our debts. that we may feed.
clothe and shelter not only the Amer
/ lean people but those who are looking
4 to us for aid.
Since all of these things are true.
my friends, then Lakeland as one of
the ions of the mixed races of tn
earth must contribute its full quota
not only to it's immediate welfare but
that it may be felt in the veins (as \
constructive agency of our national
life.
Now permit me to discuss free'y,
+ arlessly. and with some feeling. the
conditions Of the Lake and public
schools. Discuss that in the light of
greatest good to the boys and the
girls May we forget ourselves and
talk, as it were, out of school. regard
less Of any reflection upon me or any
other individual. If I am guilty | am
perfectly willing to tax my medicine
without Il murmur.
We are not attaching any blame
/ Whatsoever to any members of the
local and county school boards or
county uperintendents, either pres
cnt 9r past, because much of scientific
/ knowledge along various lines was
not given to these men,
Takes Up the Facts
The Speaker then took up in a
forGeful, frank manner the various
conditions that need remedying in the
schools, particularly in the school
buildings of Lakeland. He stated that
the teachers load" should not be
over rs to 30 pupils, whereas in one
instance in the Lakeland schools 1t is
60. Overlooking the teacher means
an increase in failures and a decrease
in discipline. The same point was
stressed lated, He said. also, that
the situation in Lakeland is not uni
que as other Florida towns face the
same conditions as those that con-
front this city. He thanked the
churches for their offer of rooms in
their buildings, but stated that it is
not practical to scatter the schools
about the city.
The matter of the unscientific light
ing of the school rooms was mat
ter that was Complementary treated
by Prof. Jones' and he proceeded from
this 10 the matter OF interior decora-
ton i'll the rooms the matter of pro-
per shades for the windows and pro-
pc" blackboards properly placed. The
matter of seats was also taken up, the
speaker stating that they should
either be adjustable seats or several
different sizes in each room.
He also spoke of the lack of proper
equipment as to library, laboratory
and the home economics department.
lie also spoke of the matter of un-
duly favoring local teachers so far as
that meant less efficient teachers, In
competent local talent said the
speaker at this point. is the greatest
curse of the American public schools >
Prof Jones stated that he agreed
with other school officials that at
least $150,000 should be voted in the
bond issue, and explained that the in
crease in the cost of construction
makes this necessary. He said that
the city can go in debt for no better
cause than the welfare of its boys
and girls. He favors the ward sys-
TEN Of schools.
He placed the blame for the condi-
ton on the low millage for schools
now on the statute books, and said
that this is the point for reformation.
AS to a solution of the difficulties,
he suggested that a committee be APP
pointed to confer with DR.. Wilson,
chairman of the city school board, and
10 visit the colored school to consider
conditions there, He advised that the
first step be the securing of the neces-
sary twenty-five per cent of the vot-
ers to a petition to the local school