The age-herald., 1900-01-30
ABLE ADDRESS
 0N EDUCATION
Delivered by Chancellor ]. H, Kirkland of the Wander
 biIt University

Among the able addresses delivered be- fore the Southern Educational Association at Memphis was one by Chancellor J. H.. Kirkland, of the Vanderbilt University, of Nashville. Chancellor Kirkland said in part:
 Tt was an observation of Macaulay's that the education of the people ought to be the first concern of the state The full ness of this obligation was long ago recog- nized by Plato, W.1o considered 1t the duty of the state to educate and to make that education compulsory. The twenty-three centuries that have passea since Plato's time have only made that duty pladner that obligation more binding.
 "The recognition of this obligation on the part of our own country has been the means of upouilding a system of public schools highly creditable to our civilization and of which We are justly proud. But the state has an Interest in education that extends beyond the common school. She needs well equipped professional men-law- yers able to eXpound her laws and strong to uphold them; physicians skilled to ar rest disease and guard the public healtA druggists trained to handle their wares without risk to the general safety; engi- neers competent for their tasks; dentists prepared for their calling. --side from pro- fessional men, the state is inteested in hay ing supply of men and women thorough ly trained in studies of general cultural value. A high grade of citizenship is an honor and a support to any nation. Such men are needed in the schoolroom, In edi- torial chairs, in the marts or trade, on the farm on the street. Oftentimes one man scientifically trained is worth more in dol lars and cents to the state that the cost of continuing and Pnd0Wing a most mapni6- cent university.
 ''The need of men of high culture and at- tainments is peculiarly great in America. The very nature of our government makes necessary a high average of citizenship, in- asmuch as individual responsibility plays so large a part in our national life. The state Is a party in the eonferring of every degree; it puts its approval and blessing on every person sent out into the world with such seal. The right to confer degrees belongs to no individual or group of indi- viduals. It cannot be acquired save from one source, and that source is the state. To this extent, then, the state is in part nership with every college and university This partnership puts on the state definite duties and responsibilities. Unfortunately the state has regarded too lightly its ob- ligation in this matter"
 Chancellor Kirkland then referred to the practice of selling degrees, giving a few specific cases of this abuse which had come under his notice and declaring that "of the 12,O00 bachelor degrees annually given in the United States, we may confidently as- sert that more than half are given for qualifications wholly insufflcient-some of them shamefully so"
 continued: Ut Is the duty of the state to establish definite conditions on which alone charters may be secured, and espe- cially to restrict by wise and careful en- actment the right to confer degrees. It has been repeatedly established by court decisions that the right to confer degrees comes from the legislature. It is, there fore the duty of the legislature to safe guard this right, prevent fits abuse, and limit by such wholesome restrictions as the interests of society demand. As has been said before, the state is partner with ev- cry degree-conferring institution, and 1t ought not to be always a silent partner It should require regular reports of official business, and should see to 1t that the good name of the firm is preserved. In allowing degrees to be given the state bestows a piece of property sacred and inviolable, as far as outward violence is concerned, but 1t allows all that is worth in that property to be destroyed by the reckless conduct of fraduent imposters indifferent preten- ders.
 Precedent for state supervision of high CT education has already been established Nearly every state in the union maintains