110 THE RIGHT TO BE WELL BORN 



pense could be obviated. Why can not we 

 have our Public Schools taken out of the 

 hands of politicians, and have them run 

 on a business basis ? Today, if a politician, 

 or one of his henchmen, has a son or 

 daughter who cannot earn a living and he 

 or she has a fair education, that indivdual 

 somehow gets into the public school either 

 as a professor or as a teacher. 



Another classification gives some light. 

 On September 18, 1914, the schools of New 

 York City had enrolled in the eight grades 

 684,000 students. 22% of them were six 

 months or more in advance of their age 

 in the classification, or 149,000 (See p. 308 

 of Eeport) were above normal. The normal 

 children numbered 293,500, or 43%. The 

 grades and age correspond for this class. 

 Those behind their grade for six months 

 or more, numbered 241,500, or 35% of the 

 whole. The defectives and special classes 

 of students are not included in the num- 

 bers given. 



It is now proposed to pass a general com- 

 pulsory school law to compel children, 

 whether fit or not, to go to public school 



