Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-03
School Army
Is Modified
To Rout Foe
It's Advance Aimed at
Ignorance, Disease
and Human Error.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

THE schools are opening. This an
nual reunion Of teachers and
pupils has become so familiar that It's
meaning Is overlooked. Nothing In
the life Of this people is as important
as the opening Of the schools. 1t Is
the mobilization Of the youth OF q
Nation In preparation for the great
advance against ignorance, disease
and error. Without drums and flfes
without the shouting and rafting OF
the wsrlike army Of the military. this
peaceful army. this most powerful OF
all armies, marches into its schools
and opens the books.
When this hopeful host enter the
schools this Fall will they flnd them
ready? We insist that all children
20 to school. but we have not reached
the stage where We insist that every
school provide for the educational
needs Of every child within its doors.
This seems to me to be the clear duty
of every community through its board
OF education. It Is useless. 1t Is cruel,
to force children and teachers TO to
through motions that are futile, yet
that is what Is done when schools
are not prepared to serve the pupils
adequately.
BY adequate service I mean clean.
airy. well-lighted. well-ventilated and
heated buildings. Well-trained and
adequately paid teachers in sufficient
numbers to take care Of the children
without hurry or without waste
Plenty of supplies. Plenty OF varied
activities provided for in shops and
laboratories and play spaces. A fiex-
ible course OF study that will allow
the teachers to give the children the
right kind Of work when they need It
This sounds expensive, but It need
not be prohibitive. Any school board
can organize It's school system and its
funds so as to provide all that is nee
essary with slight increase In its tax
rate. We have taxed the people for
everything under the sun. and still the
schools go begging. Give the chill
dren their share II don't say their
fair share) and the schools can offer
an education that will function In the
life of the people.
hope this little story will make the
point clear. A 14-year-old boy insisted
on getting working papers. There was
no work. He would stay on the streets
for he knew no law but his own will.
The officer took him to well-equipped
school and he was given q program.
I'm not going to do any work.
You might as well know that right
now"
What's the use, son? The law
saws school for you. Isn't it better to
be here than in some other places
you know about? Pick your program
and get busy"
He made out his program similar
to the one offered him and selected
q shop. He was turned out Of five
shops one after the other because he
declined to attend. The library was
next on the list. IT don't read" said
he. LAS you like" said the librarian
Maybe you would like 10 help ar
range the shelves"
He began. He opened . book and
stood looking at it. He took 1t to q
corner and read it. 1t was book
about pigeons. He wrote book about
pigeons, printed 1t in the shop the
one he had stormed out Of q short
time back, illustrated it and bound
1t. He Is doing very we'll, thank you
But suppose the school had not
been ready for him?
Copyright. 1850