Evening star., 1928-09-09

field, and which gives to Washington
one of it's most solid supports for its
claim to being unique as a center of
education. Between the close of the
Civil War and 1870, three such schools
were started in the City of Washington,
the Columbia, the National and George
town University Law Schools, estab-
lished in the order named. From that
time to this there have probably been
more graduates in law from the schools
of Washington than from any other
State or city in the United States.
These return to their places of origin
and their domicileS of choice in every
section of the country, and under the
broadening influence of their sojourn
in the National Capital, have been en-
abled to enrich the country with pro-
feSional competence, with larger ideals
and with broader vision.
Part-time education in the law was
followed by All ever widening opportu-
nifty until there are now three univer-
sites in Washington, each incorporated
by special act of Congress. which offer
in classrooms accessible to the part
time adult student nearly all of the sub
jectS categoried as belonging to the
social and political sciences. Their stu
dents sit at the feet of the bin equip
ped men in the country. and despite
the economic handicap which would
confront them elsewhere, have an op-
portunity adequately to prepare for the
completer life.
Other Schools Here.
We have other splendid private
universities, colleges and preparatory
schools in Washington conducted along
traditional lines. and making it unneces-
sary for the student eligible for and
oesirous of what is ordinarily under
stood to constitute college life to leave
Washington in search of it. Our public
instruction is as we'll organized and as
competent as may be found anywhere.
When our normal school is heightened
another year into teachers college and
the first two years are broadened into
junior college open to all qualified
students. both consummations possible
at trivial additional expense to the tax
payers Of Washington. the public will
have done its full duty. and in view OF
the excellent colleges and universities
open TO the employed adult, no ambi-
ton need be thwarted or genius
languish for want of opportunity to pre-
pare itself for any type of public service.
asked upon what he bases his claim that
Washington is really an educational
center in any unique sense. He has
tried, as briefly as possible. to shadow
forth the answer Obviously our public
education is excellent but not unique.
Our private colleges and universities
and training schools are equal to those
elsewhere, but many of them are not
specially to be differentiated from those
in other locations. 1t is in the field
Of part-time adult education that Wash
ington is the pioneer and represents the
highest and broadest accomplishment.
Blind forces, some selfish and some
simply unseen and unsympathetic with
the great democratic and American
ideal of equality of opportunity. includ-
ing educational opportunity. arrest from
time to time this last and greatest
endeavor. next to that of public free
education, which will make the indus
trial urban population of America the
best trained and with the highest gen.
eral level of culture and ability of any
people anywhere, past or present