Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-30
BECK GA NDID ATE
FOR STATE SCHOOL
COMMISSIONER
pEkAL5 COUNTY CITIZEN MAKES
FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR
PLACE HELD BY PRO-
FEssoR GLENN.

Rev. A. ]. Beck. county school COM
missioner OF DeKaIo county. has given
out. his announcement as q candidate for
the once OF state school Commissioners
before the Democratic primary.
Mr.. Beck's announcement 20 the public
Is as follows:
CHARLESTON. Ca. Jan. n. 1902
To the People OF Georgia:
In announcing myself q candidate for
the once OF state school commissioner.
subject 70 the Democratic primary it is
due 20 you that I state clearly the pur-
poses that would guide me. IL elected TO
once.
our state constitution declares that
There shall be a thorough system OF
common schools for the education OF chill
dren in the elementary branches OF an
English education only. as nearly uniform
as practicable" This provision IS based
upon the accepted principle that the
safety OF the republican government rests
IN an educated citizenship. as well as
upon the truth also that a child thor
oughly instructed In these elementary
branches has opened 20 him the avenues
20 success in the fields OF higher learn
ing. IN professional life and in the world
OF business
The great need OF today f. to carry out
this provision OF the constitution. made
for our children and adapted 20 our con-
citions. IL may We very pleasant 10
dream OF what may come 10 pass nifty
years hence. and 20 talk lssrnedly OF for
eign methods In school work. but there
car be no wisdom In trying 70 graft upon
us th=- Is.sthOds OF nations or sections
whgse conditions and genius are wholly
different from our own.
The problem before US is 10 organize a
system OF common schools system that
shat be uniform. carrying the same ben
efits TO every county. TO every Comulunt
- 49, r. d
straining the word 10 cali what we now
have a system OF common schools. an
utter abuse OF language TO claim that we
have uniform system Many OF our
towns and cities and a few Of our coun-
ties have public school systems: but the
claim that the state has a uniform sys-
TEN OF schools rests upon no foundation
except the hare facts that the examins-
ton questions come from the same place.
school reports 80 10 the same Office, and
the public school fund is paid out OF a
common treasury.
favor. without any hesitation. the
adoptl0a OF uniform text books for the
common schools OF Georgia. and for the
following reasons: /. Such a measure
would relieve the large and growing
trri8ut class OF our citizens OF much in
convenience and expense Through
Fchanges in ownership OF land and from
other causes these worthy people and
many other classes are often forced to
remove from one county 10 another and
almost as often find Il necessary to pur-
chase a new supply OF school books .
The adoption Of this plan would lift from
all the school patrons OF Georgia a heavy
burden By lowering the cost OF school
hooks. 3 Uniformity OF books is one
step. and. as many think. an absolutely
necessary step.toward a Uniform system
Of schools I take this position with the
FUN knowledge that in some quarters.
Il viii develop opposition. and yet with
no feeling on ny part OF antagonism to
school book publishers. We shall need
Just as many and just as good books
under the new plan as under the old.
II elected. shall do all within the DOW
er OF an administrative officer TO secure
the regular and prompt payment OF the
common school teachers. 1t is a strange
thing that the state should discount the
value OF education before the eyes OF
all her people BY placing educators on a
lower plane. as regards payment for
services rendered. than any other public
employees. We shall never be able to
make our children believe that education
IS desirable so long as the state refuses to
recognize the dignity and value OF the
teachers work.
To conclude. IL my candidacy were a
question OF political preferment or per
Eonal ACKNOWLEDGMENT. no influence could
induce me 10 enter the field. I ask for
election at your hands with the one pur-
pose 10 use the ONCE for the uplifting Of
the children OF our state and for the glory
OF God through their lives. Very respect
fully. A J. BECK.