The Washington herald., 1922-01-02
Defends Public Schools.

10 the Editor, The Washington Herald:
When anyone advocates the aboI-
ishment OF our public schools he IS
with such a small minority it is
not really worth our time to take
issue with him, but nevertheless !
Will attempt to say Il few things
in defense of the public schools in
reply to letters recently published
in the Open Court.
The first question that comes to
mind is what will we do to secure
an education IL we abolish the pub
lie schools. The reply is invariably
to use private schools. Theoretical
ly from some standpoints that may
be all right, but for the general
public good II would lead to the de-
struction of our country in time for
the following reasons. Private
schools could not expect support
from public funds (taxes), conse-
quently a standard fee per student
must be charged, which would
cause those in less favorable cir
cumstances. and they are IN the
greater majority in this country, to
neglect their children's education
for lack of funds. What this coun-
try needs more than anything else
is a common viewpoint. A common
viewpoint can be brought about IN
only two ways, /. e.. standard edu-
cation or a standard press. The
latter is much more imposs bic than
the former. so the former is the
only logical procedure.
What would be the result if all
schools In this country were pri-
waite and in each school any ide.
q
To it's students? II is my bell.
that the country would be filled
with private schools each Coaching
as it saw fit. To cite you an en-
ample, out in Zion City they teach
that the earth is fiat and offer sci
cntiflc proof" to support that con-
tcntion. We would possibly have
another school teaching that tho
earth was square. We would have
schools that would teach that the
Socialist theory of government was
the only equitable form: another
that anarchy would bring universal
happiness; another that the repub-
lie idea of government is the only
true way: and still another that
might teach the Divine right of
kings. The different theories that
could be taught would be unlimited.
To begin such a system at the pres
ent time would result in a few gem
erations in the greatest Confusion
that ever existed in modern times
even rivaling the confusion at the
building of the Tower of Babel.
We would not live through the
generation without bloody civil
wars. as the students of each school
would be taught to distrust .he
students of other schools. The pub
lie school is our greatest melting
pot. In our public schools the chill
dren of all classes mix. discuss
their viewpoint or philosophy of
life, each adopting something from
the other. the final product being
blend hat makes bloody revolutions
next to impossible.
Those who advocate the abolish
ment of the public schools always
blame the public schools for all
public ills. 1 cannot see where the
public school. even IL 1t were an
evil institution, which it Is not.
would greatly influence the life of
anyone provided the parents of the
child did their duty toward il. The
public ills that some blame on the
public schools others blame on GER
tain classes of motion pictures and
theaters. while still others blame
some other cause. For myself I
think that the present-day motion
pictures and stage have a greater
influence over the youth than pos
sibly any other one thing. II the
home life of a child, plus church
services on Sunday etc. are not
sufficient to each a child he par
ticular creed desired by the parent
there must be something wrong
with the creed.
Furthermore, Harvard University
announced recently that they find
boys from public schools over twice
as Intelligent on the average as