San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-06-05
ADDRESS OF PROF. j. A. THOMAS
Before the Hays County Teachers Con.
venti0n.

Before the Hays County Teachers Con.
vention.
Whatever may DO said of the American
idea of free education, it is now and will
continue to be indelibly impressed upon
the minds of the American people.
Much may be SAID Of Jesuitical and sec
tartan influences brought to bear upon this
force, yet in it's onward course II moves for
ward, destined to mould the thought and
shape tho destiny of tho American people.
1t remains largely for the teachers to ray
what moral and educational forces shall be
brought to boar upon the present and future
generations of children by this mighty
| agency.
1t is impossible to overestimate the i'm
portance of this system IN giving share to
the political and social status of our country.
Ours is m elective government fraught
with all category of evils attending such q
government when placed in the hands of
of acorrupt and ignorant constituen-
cy.
The facts concerning this mass are
enough TO awaken the most unconcerned to
| vigorous action.
In fifteen States (mostly southern) in
1880, nearly three million children were
not enrolled in any school.
Massachusetts enrols within few thous-
ands of her school population, while the
middle States spend nearly four times as
much rs the average southern State.
Such inequalities, which mention mere
ly to illustrate our true situation, ars at
i tended no. only with corresponding diff
fer ence in taste, sentiment and opinion of
the people in these different localities, but
lead to wide difference in social and ma
terial progress and III power and influence,
for the fact cannot be ignored that educa-
| ton is the underlying agency OF all pro-
gress; that it carries with it tho knowledge
that conters power; that tho more widely
il is diffused in my State or community,
the more power that State or community
will exert and exercise in forming and
moulding the public opinion that moves
and degrades the onward course OF the
social current.
These eyils and dangers OF illiteracy
reach far beyond the localities where such
suffrage in exercised.
Illiteracy leads 10 the degradation of labor,
The Bureau of Education says, where a
common school education is given tho pro-
ducts of labor are increased so per cent and
that higher education increases IN pro.
dnctyenoss by corresponding ratio.
The time was never more propitious for
wide-awake, progressive. industrious teach
ers in our common schools,
The South, with its rich and inexhausti-
BILE resources and mineral wealth, IL just
| nf n
terial development, skilled hands must
keep the rush of humanity in the proper
intellectual path while on their great force
march through this electric ago.
Wo must educate the labor in our midst,
or leave it as social and political cancer
to eat out the worry vitals Of our national
life
This Is not taking q gloomy view, we
arc not pessimists; the future outlook 10
really hopeful, but the work Is ponderous
and the question grand beyond conception.
No man can now mark the bounds OF
this progressive people. With their Saxon
push, Norman pride and Teutonic stead
fastnoss, they are destined to rule the world.
Three hundred millions of souls will soon
tread this soil. they will be from all nations.
How can we educate them and bring them
up to an intelligent view OF our laws and
liberties is the great question? In this
work, public education is destined to take
an active part.
Ladies and gentlemen, now leave the
general sweep OF this subject that | may
bring your minds to consider one question;
the all important question is, are our peo-
pie as mass sufficiently interested in the
education OF their children? and, If not,
how can we interest them? want to say to
you that, with more than ordinary faculties
| for observation on this line, / have come
| 10 the conclusion that the masses are la
mentally Indifferent on this subject.
Fellow teachers, you have been hearing
too much talking from our teachers OF
educational centres who do not under
stand the trials conflicts aud difficulties Of
our country schools. Many Of You. / dare
say, ere not posted on the truo state OF
things.
Thousands % the common people. on
whose shouldes rests the very life OF this
union, are totally indifferent 70 the wants
Of their children on this point l defy any
man 10 deny this.
They eat, they drink, they buy horses
and corner lots. they talk prohibition,
creeds aud politics. they are equaiizing
capital and harm0nizing labor, while thou
sands Of their children are roaming the
woods and streets, with not enough edloa-
tioa 20 vote intelligently on the most sim
pie subject You need not ssy, tins u al
hoax
Get the average AiiesdAnce Of every
child in Hays e0aniy add yOz uin be sur
Trised
What We want y plan 70 interest the
uasses. The State has doue. and Il don ~,
literal things for ~ and make the Asser-
.ioB that 10 day. lie stlts . laying more
sshooi money a. tie do0r q Der citi1ens
IA. tbsy ARE using. mean % say With
o-f Fear q s1osezsfli coatrtdiotio-. thai the
eiTI1rsn q TEXAS are not Averaging -
ma tine IN scbsai a. o. Tubilc t1n1s
uo-ld pay for. Et rsas1ua5.s rae q t7i-
ca. Thezs fncts E-s before &C.
We u-ss csf toub - pallDa1l Eo-k u