ber of scholars in each who attend school regularly. In this way not only is help given to the poorer districts and to those which are most earnest in their school work, but a higher standard is maintained throughout the state, because occasionally school money can be withheld until that standard has been reached. school lands. Popular interest in education and desire to have Income from the best schools obtainable has undoubtedly been quickened by the aid given by Congress to the newer states. Ever since 1802 Congress has given as the basis of an educational fund to each of these states on its admission to the Union one square mile of each congressional township, which is six miles square (see § 228), and since 1848 two sections. There Three reasons why the public schools. 85. Why Education is at Public Expense. must be very good reasons why all of this public expenditure is made for schools which might be supports maintained by private parties. In the first place, it is thought that this subject is too important to be left in the hands of those whose interest in the matter would depend on the profit they would derive from it. We believe that there must be a fairly uniform system of schools. In the second place, we believe that no one can fully enjoy the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" who has not received a fairly good common school education. Since we became citizens of this country simply by being born here, the State that is, the whole body of citizens individuals an education which will fit us for the duties of citizenship. Thirdly, and much the most important of all, the government must provide educa Owes us as tion at public expense and see that all shall procure it, even when it is distasteful, because in a country such as ours, governed by the people, ignorance is a menace not only to our prosperity but to our preservation. In other words, public education is a means of public protection—it is the ounce of prevention. TEXT QUESTIONS 1. What are the advantages of large school districts over small ones? 2. Why do the local trustees exert very great influence on the school system? 3. Name all of the grades of schools maintained at public expense. 4. What has been done by the national government for education? (Consult also § 230.) 5. Why is education at public expense? 6. Explain the following expressions: "manual training" (§ 79), "technical high schools" (§ 81), "experiment station" (§ 83), "agricultural education" (§ 83), "congressional township" (§ 84), "state school funds " (84). SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS 1. What are the boundaries of this school district? How many schools are located in it? 2. On the prevalence of the small district system, consult Butler's "Education in the United States," pp. 7-11. 3. How many members are there on our school board? Do all go out of office at the same time? Is it the custom to reëlect these officials? 4. Who issues teachers' certificates? 5. How have rural schools been consolidated? (Review of Reviews, XXVI (1902), 702–710.) 6. What do the public schools do for the country boy? (Review of Reviews, XXVIII (1903), 449–455.) 7. Industrial education in the South. (Harper's Magazine, CVII (1903), pp. 659-667.) 8. Have we a county school board and a county superintendent? 9. Have we free text-books in this state? 10. What are the duties of our state superintendent of public instruction? II. If there is a state board of education, learn how it is composed and what work it does. 12. The work of a modern public library. (Review of Reviews, XXIX (1904), 702-708.) 13. Have we one or more high schools in this district? 14. How many normal schools are there in this state? 15. Does this state support a state university? If so, learn where it is located, and to how many pupils instruction is given. 16. Our state universities. (Outlook, LXVIII (1901), pp. 768-774, Scribner's Magazine, XXXIV (1903), pp. 481-490.) 17. State the principal problems of education. (Hart, "Actual Government," § 238.) G Features of. CHAPTER VII PUBLIC CHARITIES 86. The Problem. There are in every community the problem. certain persons who are unable or unwilling to provide for themselves. Most of these have relatives who see that they are provided with a home and the necessaries of life. The rest are a burden on society in general, and must be supported by private charity or at public expense. The first duties of the public are to separate them into classes according to their disability, to distinguish between the deserving and the unworthy, and to provide suitable help for those Working out who may be entitled to receive it. These tasks conthe problem. stitute a problem of no mean proportions; for although we may easily determine what classes deserve aid and which ones punishment, the separation of those who are worthy from those who are not is sometimes impossible. An impostor may remain long undetected and have become a social parasite, whereas funds may be withheld from needy families. There may also be very great difference of opinion about the best way of aiding any particular class of dependents. Especially is this the case with the most general problem of all the question of public or private charity. 87. Public or Private Charity. We do not question the justice of the doctrine that these unfortunates public should care for should be a public charge. Society is a unit, and we Why the believe that society is under obligation to care for its poor and for those to whom nature has denied some dependents. faculty, just as a family is expected to provide for those of its members who are unable to care for themselves. This does not mean that most of the expenditures for charitable purposes should be made through government officials, for every one admits that private organizations can often much more easily learn whether those applying for help are deserving. In fact, so often have overseers of the poor been imposed on by applicants for help, that government now does little more than care for those dependents who live in institutions. Most forms of "outdoor relief," that is, assistance to those living in their homes, are given through charitable organizations unconnected with government. With these private agencies which have such an important work to perform, we have in this chapter nothing to do. What charities are left to private parties. persons are a public 88. Care of the Insane. One class of dependents Why insane whose care is left to the government exclusively is that of the insane. Our government performs this charge. task, not only because it is a necessary charity, but, as many insane people are dangerous, for the sake of protecting the public. No person is, however, placed under the control of government officials until he has been examined and declared to be of unsound mind. Otherwise it would be possible for people that wished to be relieved of some eccentric relative who was perfectly sane, to have the latter placed under restraint. |