Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-11-07
The Needs Of the RuraI Schools.

Democracy is a government by the
common people and it's perpetuity de-
ponds upon the education of the masses
rather than the classes. 1t is not as i'm
portant for the few to receive "a superior
education as it is for the many to re-
ceive a liberal one. As the masses begin
and end their education in the common
schools it is all important that these
schools come first in the minds OF the
people and should be given every consid-
Grafton that the state and nation can al
ford .---a
''While the common schools which are
to be found in our towns and cities are
on a permanent foundation, the rural
school is on a foundation which may mean
one thing today and something entirely
different tomorrow, depending largely
upon the teacher and community. And
yet these rural schools are the places
where the masses of our rural popula-
ton receive their education. While the
colleges, universities, the normal schools,
the town and city schools are making
rapid progress and are forerunners or
civilization, the rural school fingers on the
threshold of progress"
Why is this true? There are several
reasons for this condition of affairs but
we will consider one or two only.
In the first place, 1t is largely chargea-
BILE to neglect. Visit the legislative halls
while a session of the general assembly is
in progress and mark what the leading
educators are working for. The state
university is not without representation
whenever an important measure touching
its interest is to come up. The state
Normal is never wanting for advocates
whenever this school is interested. The
Technologieal is defended by able coun-
sellers when it's interest is at stake. The
Girls Normal and Industrial Is never
lacking in warm and influential friends
when opportunity offers. Higher educa-.
ton in almost every state Is ably cham-
pioned when it's interest is involved Like
wise the city and town systems are oD-'
jects of deep concern, and are general
ly protected and provided for. And this
active interest and intense sollcitude are
not confined to individuals; the leading
newspapers are vociferous In their de-
mands for the higher institutions Of learn
ing
We would not be misunderstood We are
not fighting higher education, and its
maintenance, even at the expense or the
state; neither would We decry the ones
working for its Improvement. On the con-
trary we rather admire their interest and
zeal. Would God the common schools OF
the country districts had in proportion as
many ardent advocates to champion their
cause!
their place and educators who are Ia
boring to advance them are doing a grand
and noble work, but the time has come
when the rural school should no longer
be treated as a football; it should be given
due consideration by all who are INTEREST,"
ed in the welfare of this republic. The ru-
raj school is very sick child and 1t needs
physicians-not inexperienced physicians
to practice upon IL, for its critical con-
dition is the result of such practice-but
specialists, the best the country AFFORDS.
Who are working for legislation look
ing to the Improvement Of rural schools!
The state school commissioners makes
manly and persistent fight every year,
but he stands alone and is often compelled
to bear harsh and unjust criticism for do
ing what he conceives to be his duty. he
has no help in these battles; no CO.
workers. no advisors. With but one or
two exceptions the newspapers are not
at all outspoken. If they indulge In COM
ment or dare make suggestions IN the
least favorable, they are characterized oy
a conservatism so courteously refined not
a ripple is produced. The army of teach
ers seem to be criminally Indifferent. the
school officials seem to have been inocu-
lated with a narcotic as effective as death.
The great mass of parents, forgetful OF
the sacred obligation resting upon them
to train and educate their children TO
honorable, useful lives, are conspicuously
reticent.
In the next place, It is due to the I'M
Just war waged against public schools by
a few who stand high in authority ana IN
fluence. The cry of burdensome taxation
is a popular wall, ana in the hands or
willy politician it can be made to wield
a tremendous power. If there Is de-
felt in the treasury, the public schoois
are responsible. II there is to be enacted
any measure looking to smaller expen-
dtrures the school fund becomes at once
the object of attack. If there Is charged
any extravaganza whatever In the ad-
ministration of public affairs, II is all
laid at the door of the public schools, not
withstanding the average salary paid ru-
raj school teachers in Georgia Is not ex-
ceeding S125 per annum, and the average
amount paid for their supervision is only
about $500 a year, Politicians pave their
way into Office with promises rich and
plentiful for the uplifting of the public
schools, only to change their minds wnen'
under the pressure Of hard times, the
people cry out against high taxes. The
man at home with large accommodations
but no children to educate, and actuated
by selfish motives will denounce the sys-
tenn as burdensome, unjust, undemocrat-
&c and diabolical in the extreme; and
strange to say, the first man TO fal under
the sway of his logic and believe as he
believes IS the pOoE AcAAOW
hill in a two-room log hut on rented land,
with less than SIS worth of furniture,
but a house teeming with children grow
ing up in ignorance as black and dense
as Egyptian darkness. Opportunities to
prepare his children for life's duties are
AFFORDED him by the common school sys-
tenn at a cost per anum less than an or
binary months tuition that otherwise he
could never hope for, but he is blind to
them. and allows himself to be persuaded
to believe the system a hydraheaded
monster and the product of the brains
Of men whose purpose 1t is to curse the
race of mankind and blast forever its
hopes Of prosperity and happiness for
both time and eternity.
"In my judgment an educational cam
paign similar to the political campaign
of 1896. is needed in the rural districts
The people must be aroused to the needs
of the rural school, and this cannot be
accomplished until the rural school is first
in the minds of prominent educators. It
will take firing OF cannon and beating OF
drums to awaken the rural population.
and then If the leading educators and 9TH
ers will give their attention to the rural
school, we feel sure that it can be placed
upon permanent foundation. But 1t will
take an educational revival to do 1t.
You can talk about the little school
house on the hill and laud. its good work
to the skies; but any person with COM
mon sense knows that the foundation OF