CHAPTER IX

EDUCATION

America means equality of opportunity for each individual, by his own effort, to work out his own happiness.-MYERS.

Opportunity for All.-Education in the United States is for all. Americans are glad and proud to see their children and their neighbors' children learn. They do all they can to help them. In the public schools rich and poor, native-born and foreign-born, sit side by side and study and play together. They have the same teachers, use the same books, and learn the same lessons. Poor boys become rich, happy, and useful men. Then they want to help others. All, you see, have a chance. Each one's success, however, depends upon himself.

Abraham Lincoln, one of the poorest boys ever born, rose to be one of the greatest men in the history, not only of the United States, but of the whole world.

If children are idle or lazy or careless, they will not succeed. It is the privilege and duty of every individual to seize the opportunities which no other country on the face of the earth offers to its people. If the boys and girls of this great country study hard, work well and take pains, and are honest, kind, and useful, they will be respected and helped by others. They will have a splendid opportunity to become good citizens and successful and happy men and women.

Public Schools.-The chief object of the public schools is to make good, useful, and healthy citizens of our city, our state, and our nation. The pupils are taught to be

useful, not only to themselves, but to others as well. It requires a large sum of money to maintain the school system of our district or city. In practically every community in this country more money is spent for the schools than for any other department of the government. Every intelligent individual will agree that the money is well spent when it goes for education.

A PUBLIC SCHOOL Modern school buildings are designed for beauty as well as utility. This is the Central High School, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We need to be educated in order to know how to work and get a good living for ourselves and for those who depend upon us. But it is not enough to know how to work. We must know also about our country and our government in order to know how to do our part in governing ourselves and others in making our country a good place to live in.

If we are educated and our neighbors are not, they may make a great deal of trouble by not knowing the

laws and what is right or wrong to do. So we have laws in all the states compelling children to go to school. Our public schools are free, so that all, even the poorest, can go. In most schools the use of books and supplies is also free.

Evening Schools. Many working people want to get an education but cannot attend day schools. Most large

towns and cities and a great many small ones have evening schools to help such people. Many thousands of those who come from foreign countries wish to learn to read and write English and to learn what will be useful to them in getting a living. A knowledge of our language will help these people in securing employment and in getting about from place to place. They will be able

to do without interpreters, who are sometimes unreliable. Knowledge of the language will enable them to read and understand safety signs, warnings, and rules or regulations that are posted for the benefit of the general public. It will aid them in reading and understanding legal papers requiring signature. The public evening schools prepare those who desire to pass the naturalization tests.

VOCATIONAL EVENING SCHOOLS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN TRADES This is an evening class in the machine shop of the Carter H. Harrison Technical High School, Chicago, Illinois

In a number of states persons up to a certain age who do not speak and understand English must attend school. These schools take great care to teach things that will help to make good workmen and good citizens. It may be a bit hard to attend school after a day's work, but we must remember that anything worth having is worth working for. Certificates or diplomas are awarded to

students when they have completed their studies in the evening school.

One very useful subject for all who work in machine shops or for carpenters or builders is drawing. Arithmetic is very important in every kind of business. The story of our country's history, our laws, our institutions, and our customs will help make us more useful and happy. Many people are doing better work and earning larger wages because of the education they received in evening schools.

Many immigrants make a great mistake when they delay in learning the English language. The best place in which to learn how to speak, read, and write the new language is a good evening school. When you know the language well, it will be easier for you to get the kind of work you like to do. You can then earn more money. You will be happier and more useful. Listen to a story that thousands of people have learned from the motionpicture screen. This will show what you can do.

THE STORY OF PETER BRUNO1

Peter Bruno lived in Italy. He had heard that America is the land of opportunity, and he left his home and sailed for the United States. On arriving here, he found Michael, his boyhood friend, at the dock. Michael had been in America twelve years and had learned to love his new home because he had been prosperous and happy here. Michael took Peter home with him and showed him his new house and garden and his happy family. Peter wished that he were as prosperous as Michael.

The next day they started to find a job for Peter. They visited many factories and found plenty of jobs waiting for somebody. But just as soon as the foremen of the factories learned that Peter could not speak English, they

1 Based on the film "The Making of an American," by permission of the Worcester Film Corporation, Worcester, Massachusetts.