Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-07-09
TAzEWELL, VA. FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1897

~~- N1N0Ao ob viz ROAic,
the awardcrs of justice in our courts,
However intolerable at home, they
can not be banished to any foreign
land"
The problem is to rid society of
Two thipgs-bad environment and
degraded heredity. Nothing in
the realm of theory seems more rea.
sonablc, and hence is so hopeful, as
free compulsory education. No
where in the field of experience has
any experiment-if you'll allow the
word-given such satisfaction as that
OF compulsory free school education.
Germany to day is tho intellectual
light of the world. 1t is hero that
our Scientists, Lingulsts, Musicians,
Theologians and Philosophers go to
master their respective subjects, I
believe that this condition exists be.
cause long since she laid the firm
foundation for her present intellect
ual structure inthe compulsory system
of education.
When the battle of Koenigratz was
ended with decisive victory for the
Prussians over the Austrians, Prince
Bismark said "The schooimaster has
conquered"
Henry W. Grady said to the stu
dents of fhe University of Virginia,
that Waterloo was won at Oxford.
and Sedan at Berlin. Can we afford
n higher tax for better schools We
need to furnish our school buildings
with maps, globes, charts, manikins,
reference books etc. The Youngest
daughter of the "Old Dominion" ex
cells hor mother in this respect. I
have never seen a manikin or an un
abridged lexicon in country public
school any whore ,in this, the very
mother state. West Virginia furnishes
both--in some districts at least. 1t
is not n matter of, can we afford
higher tax for better schools? bu;
can we afford not to have better free
schools? DR.. Curry, before the Gen:
eral Assembly of Georgia telling OF
a visit to a public school in the
mountains, said that he thought he
picture of Herod numbering the ia
nOcents iaught to be Withdrawn to
give place to the picture of the incom.
petent school teacher numbering
the innocents: No Lam mistaken,
he said !: at is the legislatures who
are mui llering the innoceatsn Teach
ers are not properly qualified for
their work. We need to set the
standard higher. Our boys and girls
should be entrusted. to the care of
christian men and women of strong
characters and liberal culture. It is
said that boy will respect the school
desks and property, if you make the
desks and furniture moro respec
table, So with teachers, the more
worthy of respect the more respect
ed. Not every boy or girl, that can
''pass the examination" i; qualified TO
teach school. ','e -
Let the pressure of public senti-
ment be brought to bear upon our
legislators for better means of quail,
tying our teachers, and of equipping
our school rooms, and see to it that
all the children in every district go
to school. This is important legisla
ton. We quote Jefferson on matters
of. finance and economy. Hear him
on this subject. II Think" said he,
"by far the most important bill in our
whole code is that for the diffusion
of knowledge among the people.
No surer foundation can be devised
for the preservation of their freedom
and happiness" e....,,
The finance question and the
''tariff bill' pale in the comparison to
a place of inferiority, aud ever. must
since tho life is more than food, aHd
the body than raiment,. AS intelle.
gent, sagacions and responsible
beings this question appeals to our
hearts and our reasons and demands
our immediate attention. -
"Investment III the education Of
children is the best Investment a
state can make it is the one invest
ment that means economy in the
maintenance of courts, iails. bospitals.