The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-08-04
A SPLENDID Platform.

A distinctly remarkable paper Is tho plat
form adopted by the National Educational
association at the last session OF It's fortieth
annual convention held at Detroit this
month. Remarkable for it's clear cut deela-
ration of principles and especially unique
In that this Is the first aud only national
platform ever presented by this dis.
tngulshed body OF high thinkers and hard
workers.
Inasmuch as It has already been given
in full In the columns Of The Post, we
shall here only make cursory meutlon OF
some of its more salient paragraphs; yet,
doing this, with a spirit Apologize, SO
strong and crystalline Is the document as
whole that it must needs suffer by piece
meallng il IN an excerpt way.
"rhe progress and happiness Of n people
are in direct ratio TO the universally Of
education" may have the ring of old gold.
but stil it Is pure gold.
The ideal public school should be tho cen.
ter Of the educational life in which 1t Is
located Here tin the rural dstrcisI
should be fonnd the public library for the
use Of all; here the educational extension
courses should draw the old aud the young.
md here may literary and social meetings
be held which will tend 10 uplift the
mental social and spiritual life of the peo-
pie, the real center of the broader intel
lectual life, the educator OF men and wo.
men beyond the school age. as well as the
guide OF childhood and youth" No pent up
Utica should conhne It's powers"
"Our system OF education will not be
wholly free until eyecy grade of school from
the kindergarten TO and including the uni
verslty shall be open TO every boy and girl
Of our country
While reaching after a share Of the lib
eraity OF the millonalres who have so law
ishly contributed 10 the endowments Of
learning and strongly commencing the
spirit that suggests this riunifcence, yet
"a. the same time it mrst be horne In
mind that popular education rests upon the
people and should look TO them for It's
chief support and CONTROL"
One Of the strongest suggestions in the
paper and plank In the platform that
most htly applies TO our Texas conditions
is found in the bold declaration that ''liti-
! CATION with respect to public education
must not walt for public sentiment. II
should lead public sentiment when neces-
gary"
experience teaches that what people arc
compelled by law to do Wlth respect to
schools they readily do without ccinpulson,
but that they are usually slow to demand
reforms which involve Increased taxation.
! school legislation should therefore be under
the general dlrectlon OF educational er-
perts." Herein Hes our stone Of stumbling.
| orr legislation Is on the tenderfoot order.
| Anything that looks 10 fundamental re-
vision smacks OF radlcallsm, ana compul
! Sion IS yerbum non gratum to our free
American ears Besides all enterprises that
look 10 improvements must carry the bur
dens Of Increased taxes. Macnuley says II
IL had cost anything to adopt the theory
Of erayltatlon It would not have been adopt
cd for century after It's announcement ="
And some how or other, school men and
business men don't mix as they ought 70.
The school men are wanting In business
sense aud business men are wanting In
school sense.
.rhe National Educational association
recognizes the principle that the child has
the same right TO be protected by the law
from Ignorance as from abuse. neglect or
hunser. aud Il therefore records with ap-
proyal that many OF tha leading States Of