Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1903-02-13
Why Dodge the Maiu Question:
Communicated.


mary School System, many reform all
To he made-they are needed some of
undoubted merit. others Of doubtful
utility. There is no question but that
"A great and expensive mistake has been
made in the multiplication OF schools
largely the result of pressure from the
neighborhoods DIR. RufIner, first State
Superintendent. always held, that 'bet-
ter run one school in a radins OF 81
miles. we'll graded, strongly manned in
teaching force, with necessary equip
ment, than two or more, within the
same space" This meant consolidation
as now proposed, and sLou.d 10y all
IN 'ans be put into practice, carefully
guarded. But in many districts, owing
To geographical features, evil and not
good may result. The proposition look
ing To the transportation of Children 60
and from the schools, strikes us as OF
doubtful merit. and will prove, in many
sections, both expensive and unsatis-
factory. The plan may work satisfac-
torily in camp&Iatively level land even,
ly populated sections, but will provo 10
be difficult for successful operation, in
Il country OF mountains and valleys,
with few passes for vehicles connect
ing neighborhoods.
Consolidate, by all means, into dis.
tricts of, say 4 to q miles ndins But let
the necessary funds forthe maintainance
OF the proposed transportation of the
children, go TO longer terms, and better
pay for more fully prepared teachers
This done n long stride will have been
taken for the bettermcnt of schools.
But the most important step To make
the schools what they were designed TO
bc, and which should have been incor-
porated in the system itself remains
Ia be taken, and this step should ut
once bc taken by the Legislature, TO
which the subject has been rclcgatcd.
1t will not be denied, that the para
mont object in the, establishment Of a
Public School System, is To put mn ed
ucation within the reach OF that class
of our people who, by reasons INSOFAR
able from the organization of society,
are not able to-of themselves, secure
it for their children, and there is some
thing wanting in the provisions Of the
law, or, its enforcement. since il ut
terly fails in bringing these children in
10 the schools. An experience OF more
than twenty years, ON the School Boards
OF Tazewell county, has convinced us
through close observation that hub-
itual non-attcndance, ON the part, cspe-
cially OF the very class Of children for
whose benefit the system is really desi-
gned, is the greatest evil TO be cor
rected, and which can only be success
fully accomplished, by and through n
compulsory feature properly guarded
by enactment of the Legislature. Long
evil Of absenteeism, on the part OF the
children most vitality interested, makes
it absolutely certain, that this is the
best, the only remedy The only sure
way, through which the children OF the
careless, the Indifferent, the ignorant
the penuIious, or worthless parent OF
guardian, can be induced to put tbciI
children into the schools. To educate
them, they must attend. First catch
your hare, then skin it," A condition
precedent, get these needy children in.
TO the schools, then teach them. Why
individual, increasing his usefulness by
awakening his intelligence, uplifting
and promoting his moral condition
civiizing and christianizing him? Who
shall be able, 10 estimate it's inestimablt
value TO the state when applied tC
I each and every individual son and
daughter, and aggregation without
: which there is no state? How fal
reaching in results, and how absolut,
the need, how infinite in importance tC
, both individual and state, is the advan
cement or her citizenship, in intelligence
morality and religion! How importan
the work. How momentous the issues
0 The state does not hesitate TO make
! laws, and to punish crime; nor does
, she fail through much expense ant
! trouble, to execute these laws. VIII,
$ should she hesitate, and take bacl
J. seat, when the PRONUNCIATION or enact
ment OF a law, or laws, becomes neces
sary TO restrain, TO prevent crime? Fail
ing in duty TO the citizen, by educating
him above crime, but never 10 punisl
that crime, mainly too the results ofig
norance. Why should not the stat
intcrpose her power TO rescue from ig
norance, with its train of evils, tn
thousands OF bright innocent childre
neglected by their natural guardians {