The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-10-16
DOES EDU D / CATION Il ipAYf.

DOES EDU CATI0N .PAYf ss
Every! Mother and B FathsF Should.
I @ Read the. statfstics 6 below
The folloWii,g article was pub lishssdf i sfl
linla recent number sof the Sout them.
Oultiyator. 3 We hope every mother
and father. will read 1T: S Y J.
with ali reasonable people, especial;
" those who have given the subject of
education any though ht, the caption Of
this article has long since ceased to be
question The fewest number OF peo-
pie there are who really believe, or
pretend to believe education does not
pay; and they are what are commonly.
called crapks; (usfng the word In no
offensive sense, nr slaves to prejudice
lirignOrance.
But while the intellectual assent,
that education. does pay, is almost uni
yersal, there is q large class OF people
who, by their actions and spirit Of
Indifference, manifest o decided lack
Of faith in its utility. This is shown
In the small enrolment, and still
smaller attendance, in our schools. It
Is shown in the general poor educa-
tional facilities we are satisfied to give
our children. It is shown In the
stolld opposition to every step toward
Improvement especially IL money is
required or any personal sacrifice de-
maDded. 1t is shown In thousand
ways in a lack Of sympathy and CO.
operation on the part Of some patrons
towards those who are striving, even
against mighty odds, to better the edu-
caGiopal advantages OF the children.
And this lack Of interest, sad to re-
late, is found almost wholly in the
;Eural districts. In the towns and
cities, where the schools are largely
supported by local taxpayers, the work
Is not SO badly Eampered. The peo-
pie here are exempt II ,m u Thousand
and one disadvantages that confront
people Of the country, and their chill
dren attend school more-regularly.
But these obstacles, apparently SO
great, are by no means, impregnable.
If moved by an intense interest in the
cause; if'inspired by .an intelligent
comprehension Of the true value of
education; and If drawn on by an
abiding and growing desire to have
| their children properly prepared for
life, the people could and would easily
overcome these difficulties.
| Bishop Gambler having been asked
II he thought education would benefit
q certain class Of people, replied, Yes
education will help an old hound dog"
Then, let us not despair, my country
men. Let US labor on. We give be-
low q few statistics illustrating the
practical value Of education:
According to an estimate made from
the latest census returns there are in
the United States O,782, 007 people
over twenty-one years old. These are
divided educationally about as follows:
Class /. Without school training,
,GS2, ,49S.
Class 2. With only common school
training 32,SG2,591.
Class 3. With common and high
school training, 2,165,357. '
Class 4. With college or higher
education added, 1,O91. 201.
Who's Who in America gives list
of 5000 persons now living In the
United States who have become
itstAiouo AOA 'ou1S noih VI ilupOI utiuCc
to the people OF the country at large
or OF. some considerable portion of it;
land an effort has been made to de-
mine how many Of these 5000 dis
!'tinguishcd citizens belong to each of
these classes.
IS The 1852 ,49S of, class l furnish 81.
!, The 80, 1862. 59l Of class 2 furnish,
/ S08::
The 2,l55,s57 Of class furnish
| 1,245::5 5lS
The l,o7l,2o1 of class 4 furnish
I5,76s.
It thus appears:
1St. That an uneducated child
has one chance in 100000 of attaining
distinction as factor in the progress
Of the age.
End. That common school educa-
tion will increase his chances nearly 4
times.
3d.. That high school training
will increase the chances Of the com
mon school boy 90 times, giving him
|.87 times the chance OF the uneducated.
4th. That a college education in
creases the chances Of the high school
boy nine times, giving him 2I9 times
the chances OF the common school boy
and more than 800 times the chance
Of the unframed.
1t is surprising fact that Of 1852
'nota bles" thus gathered together
4,8l0 proved to be full graduates of
colleges? M. b. DENNIS.