Evening star., 1924-06-27
in. TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL y. COLLINS

MAKE make ready reference to the die
tlonary for rare words not found ir
MS l,0O0-word vocabulary
no longer is a child made to copy
the copperplate writing lesson, slav-
lshly drawing its letters. 1t is found
that in business nobody writes COP.
perplate chirography. but speed and
leelb1lity are the principal requisites
80 writing becomes practical and not
punishment Reading is based upor
comma -semi-t tone" and period fall
of-Voice" are forgotten rules.
instead Of fixed course-"cut and
afled progressive school has
projects" given for the class to work
out in it's own way, through research
looks on and Is only the court of las,
resort for guidance. Initiative. per-
sistence, interest, self-confidence
me class is thus socialized and self
wholly self-governed, making their
own laws and enforcing them as a
miniature democracy. Freedom, with
sense Of obligation to othe-s
through respecting order and the
rights OF all, is thus developed.
Does 1t pay as a financial invest
ment? Some years ago the bureau
OF education published tables show
ing that uneducateed laborers in
forty years earned, at $500 a wear. a
total OF $4,000, while high school
graduates in forty years earned
That excess of $4,000 earned by
the graduate was credited to his edu-
cation gained in twelve years of
school. lSO days a Year. Therefore, it
was found that each day in school
had paid the pupil $2.02. AS wages
20 1T,
"hen the hEures were compiled, the
result would be higher, but in the
same proportion.
y .
The bureau of education is now
compiling statistics of states, up to
date, showing the profitableness OF
the modern expenditures and energy
in education. 1t Is demonstrated that
states which are the most liberal in
school support are those which ten
years later have the greatest income es
per capita.
South Carolina. in 1900, spent for
schools only SO cents per capita per
year. and her wealth was $500 per
capita. In lS21-22 she spent $3.50 and
her accumulat ted wealth at that time
was s1,405 per capita.
California, in 1900, spent for sup
wealth was s2,375 per capita. In 1921
80 she spent S25.3S per capita, and her
wealth was S4.007 per capita-the high
est cost in school support, and 80
Der cent .nore wealth per capita than
the average Of the United states. The
bureau reasons that the school sup
rort thus affects the wealth, since
the connection is evident in all cases.
i Il 4
The District of Columbia, which
as II contains the National Capital
is expected to have ideal schools,
does not justify that expectation, so
far as financial support goes, but 1t
IS to be remembered that local senti-
ment is modified by congressional
control Of the finances. The schools
rank in support. as compared with
support in other states as follows:
In 1900. No. II: in 1910, No. ,: in 1920,
No %: in 1922, No. IS. Thus in 1872
there ere twenty seven states Civ
ing better school support per capita
than Congress permits in the Ma
tional Capital. Yet in wealth per
rank of the states as No. in 1902.
No. 3 in 1872 and No. in 1922.
While the United States whole
increased its school support in the
decade ending 1910 by - per cent
and for the last decade by 1l9 per
cent, the District of Columb mbia sup
port increased for the first decade
ia per cent and for the last decade
only As per cent. The District is
not keeping pace with the nation.
Copyright 1924 by Paul V. Coilnsl