The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-01-03
EDUCATION.
LETTER FROM SUPT. JOHN WASH
INCTON, OF CAROLINE.
HE APPEALS TO THE PUBLIC TO
TAKE MORE INTEREST IN
PUBLIC SCHOLASTIC.

To the People of Caroline County
la eduration. like all other important
aud far reaching enterprises, the llrst -
sential consideration is an interest Ia IL,
IA desire for its accomplishment Those
" no have an appreciation OF Its import
ance and IA realIE alton Of its nre sslty,
must unite In determined effort Tor its
success. Are there some who take an 10
terest in the education, the elevation, the
lifting for right living Of our people9
What are they doing 10 help their less
blessed fellow man? Are there some who
reaizs the Importance OF educatiOn; yes,
the necessity Of educatlon2 What are
they doing to help supply this necessityY :
/ Is II TO be expected the uneducated can
appreciate and feel the neceesity OF edu-
cation, a suhjact OF which they are ignO-
rant2 Then whose duty Ia 1t to awaken
An interest, create a desire. and give to
the uneducated this lnestlmable bless
inp-.ducAtiob? Certain 1t is none can
give il but those blessed with IL. It'll q
! God given trust for the bet'ermert OF
their fellow The Christian who sits
serenely quiet, folding to his bosom The
| bl ssed thought he ia Christian, 10 no
more doing his duty than the educated
man who fails to do what he can to en-
| able Others to acquire the blessing, or
that education, which he enjoys; no, not
Ell Iys, there is no such thug az selfish
en- lyment. To enjoy n pleasure or
blessing. we must let Others share it with
US, or we must feel We are using the
blessing for the good OF others. There is
work for most Of us, and especial work
for some of rs, just as opportunity or
position give.
The education Of our people is mighty
undertaking, demanding the combined
efforts OF US all Truly is is worthy OF 10.
To expect the school officials alone, with
| the Insignificant funds at their disposal,
to do this work is absurd. What 10 Car
oline county doing to educate her chill
dren? Giving the very least cent the law
allows. The law provides not less than
| II cents on 800. nor more than 30
cents on 300 Ui the 100 counties In
Virginia. Caroline is one Of the l3 doing
80 little for education. Fifteen cents on
500 IL about 30 cents per child annual
~. We cannot set up the claim we pay
a State tax for schools. On investiga-
tion, find the State gives TO Caroline
for education as much as Caroline pays
to the state In taxes. Hence, aIl we can
claim credit for doing TO educate our
children lie the paying OF 30 cents per
child annually. Are you disappointed at
the work done by your schools? What
can you hope for under these conditions?
Three years ago a few noble, public
spirited, Christian women OF Richmond
realizing the public schools were not do
ing the work expected of them, began an
investigation, with this result: The
schools were doing all they could do with
the facilities at their disposal or without
the cooperation OF the people; but the
people were not doing their duty TO the
schJols. These women met and organized,
resolving to co operate with the school
officials Tor the betterment OF the schOols.
The resslt, the Richmond schools are
doing better work each year.
Many public-spirited men and women
of Virginia, realizing the need OF co-Opera
tion, and seeing the results OF this Rich
mond organisation, called meeting 10
Richmond and organized the go opera
tion Education Commission oil Virginia.
Other parts OF the State, seeing what
this little Richmond band were doing Tor
the Richmond schools, are now doing Tor
their schools by similar organizations.
Why will not Caroline do lkewise2 II
this. my appeal, is In vain, II is the hrst
time a deserving cause has Jailed to re-
c.iye from the preachers and the Chris
tian women OF Caroline their cordial CO.
operation. ask every preacher in aro-
lime during the month OF January, 1908,
70 deliver an address In each OF bis
churches on necessity Of cooperation
for the I'D. building OF the public schools
of Caroline county. 8lsO appeal 10
them TO manifest the interest ! know
thew must feel 10 the public schools,
the schools for all the people, by
calling attention to the schools, and i'm
nressiDg their members with the necessity
of their interest aud aid. DO thi" III tneir
J pastoral yisits, iu their intermlngling
with their members. ] further beg Oi
them. they will some times, when they
can. visit the public schools. Such visits
will be encouraging to teacherA, inspir.
inc to pupils, awakening OF interest oi
natrons. | beg Of our Christian women
. RI organ ~ a little school Improve
ment League" 10 each school neigAbOr-
hood for the Improvement Of their school
Firat make the house comfortable and
beigenic, then tquip it with the essentials
to do good school work, the 80 beautify
Il as TO make IL ct abode for the child,
always renembl ring impressions made
on the child is the life OF the man or wo
man. Visit the schools, talk about the
schools encouragingly. ieel sure i you
will do something to imprOvethe schools
Won will feel more interest In them. ln.
Inference Is the obstruction to success.