The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-12-04

BY PRoF ID coaHIA0.

nnk Oh bringing Cnttu into e11@-
taEce; and the utter failure upon the
| part OF the masses to realize this,
shows how much is yet lacking
In their development as human be-
ings.
This responsibility is two fold;
first to the child; second to society.
The child's absolute right Is an edu-
cation sufficient to have Q fair start
with the problems of life; and the
absolute right of society is to have
in every new member a helper and
not hindrance. The only solution
to these problems is to educate.
| Primarily there are two objects in
education; first that a man may
| ply his avocation more properly,
second, and by far the most impor-
tant, that his pleasure and happi-
ness may be intensified by being
lifted into a higher sphere. But if
| the parents, who can answer to their
consciences that these beings whom
u
world will have a fair start physi-
cally, mentally and morally, they
must meet still another serious
question: are we able to provide
their birthright of proper food,
| clothing, shelter, surroundings and
| educ ation?
The crime of bringing children in
to object properly is too obvious to
| need discussion. The requirements
now for an even chance are far in
excess of what they used to be when
| all were poor and life was simple,
when the field of labor was wide and
| thinly occupied, and when the high
ly educated were the exceptions, we
could struggle along on very little
| and keep up with our neighbors. In
the wonderful development of our
country with It's rapid industrial ex-
pansion, there have been opportuni-
ties for the poor and uneducated
which will not come in the future.
The keen competition, the complex
demands of the present, will become
still more exacting, and the man or
woman without specific training will
be heavily handicapped.
Therefore, the problem which par
ents must face today is far mere
complicated than that which con-
frOnted those of the last century.
The wedding out process, which re-
suits in the suryiva al of the fittest,
is destined to grow more and more
vigorous; and the parent who does
not look to the careful training and
! thorough education Of his child,
neglects the interest of the child and
I likewise the interest Of society.
! One chief characteristic of the last
century was the extension of .hs
benefits OF education to the masses
| of the people. Its chief lesson was
that education increases the wealth
producing power Of people in di-
rect ratio TO its distribution and
thoroughness.
The relation between education
and productivity are so well under
stood now that you can measure the
wealth producing power OF people
by the school privileges which they
have enjoyed. Statistics show for
example, that the power of the peo-
pie of the different states to earn
money is in direct.proportion to the
length OF period that the average
citizen of each state has attended
school.
1t lis not the valued resources,
climate, the soil and minerals, it is
nos even the race, as much as these
things count in production; but it
is the education which above every
thing else determines the wealth
earning power of people
II the people of the south would
compete in production, with those
of other states, and of the world
and they must do so whether they
will or not-they must educate their
! children. Our great resources in
the south climate. soils land miner
ais, are useless in the hands Of al
unframed people.
If the above data is true with
reference to the ratio of education
In general sense it is applicable to
our agricultural interests.
Farming has always been the
basal occupation OF mankind. Al
though many empIoyments have de-
veloped with growing civilization
they are all antedated by the occu-
pantiOu OF subduing the soil To the
needs of man. Although more of
the race are engaged in the pursuit
still 1t has never been a popular one
in the public mind and aside from
the interest taken in 1t by the farm
ers themselves, il has been consid-
cred AL embarrassing subject, and
tina fDater funIhar haa haa,, tha