The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1903-02-27
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
Our Public Schools Can be Improved

Our Public Schools Can be Improved
AS we look around us the worl
of the public school is visible on al
sides. 1t is through the publ
school system that Tennessee il
placed on respectable footing
with the best school states in tht
Union. There are thousands o
Tennessee citizens who feel PROUD
Of her schools. When the blast Of
war sounds over her hills and dales
she is tiger fierce and bold. This
| fact has been demonstrated over and
over. Yet, when the war sound
ceases, Tennessee is as wise as a
serpent and as harmless as a dove.
This fact has been proven from our
development in the literary works.
There is scarcely a child, rich or
poor, that cannot attend a public
school
At no far distance l can see the
future with wide extended arms in
viting us, the children of Tennes-
see, into her bosom of Industrious
ness. But there is much greater
work tor us in this century than
| there was for our fathers in the
past century. Yes, as there is a
greater work, there is also a greater
need OF an education. National
| prosperity and education go hand
in hand. If our future work is not
exalted, it will be degraded No
nation can be on standstill long
at a time. The ancient Greeks al
ford US splendid example of this.
They rose to the highest degree of
mental cultivation that was possi-
BILE at that time. AS the towering
oak sends its branches far above
the common weed, so the Greeks
rose above the surrounding nations.
But they gloried in this and neg
lected to improve. The result is
too well known to need description.
And likewise, if we neglect to i'm
prove, our names shall be written
on water. Future navigators will
sail on and never know that we
exist.
I am only schoolboy myself, but
/ see that the daily attendance in
public schools is not so good as it
might be. The State Superlntend-
ent OF Public instruction reports
that there are III, ,065 boys and girls
in Tennessee who could be in school.
The average daily attendance is
only 341, 537. From this we see
that there is great room for i'm.
provement. Some are failing in
their duty to their state. They
have forgotten to whom they owe
these vast educational advantages
that the state maintains these
institutions for them. Not only
does Tennessee note that education
is good for her children, but she
sees that her prosperity depends
upon educating her children. See
ing this, Tennessee has rolled out
at our feet ten thousand advantages
that our fathers never dreamed |
their children would enjoy. When
the state is so interested in our ed. |
ucation, why should we not be as
much interested2 Parents, why do
you not awake to your duty and
see that your children enjoy these
advantages? Why do you prefer to
have your children while away their
time in idleness, when they might
be placed in school and prove
to humanity? Why is it
hat some directors Of secondary
public schools will try to convert
hem into primary schools, rather
han procure qualified teachers and
They are doing lasting
injury to their community. Such
s taking one step backwards. BY
nd by the fruit of this evil will /,
'ear a bountiful crop of degreda- E
ion to its authors. It's compelling
'oor children, for whom the free ]
chool is especially intended, to be j
ontent with a primary education,- :
Mess there is great determina-
ion on the part of the pupil to
tudy at home. This determine /
ion does not so often exist when a