Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-05
EDUcATIoNALY

To The Friends Of Education in the
Second Congressional District Of
Kentucky:
On the 20tL Of last February the
undersigned, as Vice president of the
State Teachers Association for the |
Second Congressional District, issued
an address TO the friends Of the cause
of popular education, calling upon all
who felt any interest in the matter 10
assist in the work of lettering our
schools and remedying the defects of
the system. Nearly every newspaper
in the district published that address,
for which we now return our sincere
thanks, and ask them to extend the
same kindness in the future. Some
few of the school officers and teachers
responded, promising cooperation
in the work, while the many made no
response whatever, thereby showing
conclusively that our people are mol
fully alive to the Importance of the
edu;itiOn of the masses. Yet we DO
not feel discouraged, knowing full
well that revolutions are brought |
about slowly, and believing also that
the cause is Il good and just one, and
that an all wise Being will put itinto
the hearts Of the people to arouse
themselves in behalf of our boys aud
girls, who i'll few years are TO enter
into the responsibilities of citizen
ship.
Our beloved State, Kentucky, is
the home of more than half ID million
boys and girls, who in short time
are to be the half million men and
women of our Commonwealth. On
them will soon rest the duties and
responsibilities of the successful all
IuinistraIion Of the affairs Of govern
ment; or should they fail in this, the
lium Of that failure, will to certain
extent, attach to those who have gone
before, and who have failed to prop
crly educate them for successful
life.
The Second Congressional District,
composed OF the counties of lIender-
son, Davies, Christian, Hopkins,
Union, Webster, Mclean and Han
cock has a school population of more
than tifty-five thousand; these boys
and girls are ours, given to us by
great God who will hold us respon-
sible for their training and education.
Are we doing our duty? Are we
doing what we can as educators, and
friends of education for the rising
generation? Are we dischargimg
Our obligations to the children, and
to our government? 1t is lament
able fact that Kentucky, the State of
which we feel so proud, is in the
background of the educational
world. Be it said to the shame of
all, that there are but four States in
tie Union that show greater
amount of illiteracy than does our
beloved Kentucky. While we have
been in the Federal Union for nearly
Il century, the second State admitted
after the adoption of the Consttu-
ton, yet in the blaze and sunlight of
freedom and intellect, twenty per
cent of our adult population are un-
able to write their names or to read
the same after written. This is a
humiliating confession yet these are
facts that stare us in the face, and
should nerve every true Kentuckiam
to at once, and heartily, engage in
warfare against the ignorance that is
bcclouding the intelects of so many
Of our sons and daughters.
But thanks TO an enlightened age
and the zeal of philanthropists, there
is general awakening of the sleep
ing energies of the people all over
the State. The sun of intellectual
power is bursting through the clouds
of ignorance, and will in time dispel
the gloom which has so long ell
shrOuded the minds in darkness.
Noble men and women are agitating
the question Of popular education
The press of the country, that strong
power for good or for evil, is using
its columns in behalf Of the cause
Our politicians are getting awake tt
the importance of an educated con
stituency. The time has arrived il
our history in which every child il
the Commonwealth should be educa
Ny ted and taught the duties he owes tC
mis- country. That philanthropist
George Peabody, never said true
Ding than "EducatiOn is debt tina
th present generation owes TO Tn,
ohethat follows"
We need better schools, bette
houses, better teachers, better pay.
Detler System. TO this end the Stat
teachers association has been or
canned. I.e last meeting was hel,
~ the Guy Oh louisville last December
One hundred ana firtv-eight teacher
from about fifty co,uties were ures
ent. They were alive to work Ic
fore them and did much to formulat
opinions and set them in motion
which are now moving our Stat
from center to circumference. TIL
next meeting of the association is
b. held in the city of Lexington. be
ginning on the second and closing o
the fourth Of July. Arrangement
have been made for cheap rate {
board while there and reduction ,
fare on the railroads. AT that NEE
ing there will be many questions di
cussed which are ofvital importanc
to every man, woman and child i
the State of Kentucky. 1t is nee
essary that the friends of educatio
interests themselves in this meetin
Already seventy-five counties hay
nrOmigpu tn bp rnnrncnntn1 In III,