Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-24
OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
The Whole Business Is Weak and
Rotten.

The Whole Business Is Weak and
Rotten.
McMAHAN MAKES SENSATIONAL SPEECH
Clemson College Organization Along
Lines of Independent seifishness---
Small Farmer Gets No Good From
Higher coIIsse-eeneraI Shake Up
Needed.
At Greenville last Tuesday, Hon.
John J. McMahan, former superintend-
ent Of education, now a candidate for
governor, and one of the broadest,
brainiest and most honest and fearless
men in public life, spoke as follows:
II am in this race for the sole pur-
pose of bringing about better condi-
tions for the welfare OF the masses of
the people. I alone have insisted upon
making this campaign one Of education
of the people in their public duties.
have refused to recognize the liquor
question as paramount protest
against the absurdity of confning the
thought Of great state to the mere
question Of expediency In controlling
alcoholic drinks. I point to education
as the only possible solution Of the
drink-evil and Of all intemperance and
weakness Of character. insst upon
the necessity Of universal, thorough.
practical education and correct training
as the solution of all questions, the
final remedy for all evils. the promo
tion of the general welfare, the attain
ment of the ends Of Democracy and
Christianity alike.
"As state superintendent Of educa-
ton became alive to the deficiencies
Of our educational system. have
specifically outlined and streruously
urged the legislation needed for the inn
provement OF our country schools.
am in this race for governor In order
to arouse the people and secure their
endorsement, so that legislators will be
moved to act for the people. The poli-
ticians Of the legislature through tim
idIty and selfishness, will do nothing
good unless 1t is clamored for by popu-
lar demand. They are either ignorant
and Indifferent. or they are concerned
only for their personal political ad-
vancement or the serving OF some spe-
cial interest Of financial value to them
or their friends. The people must be
aroused and educated before we shall
have a government In their interest.
The demagogues who represent our
craftsmanship are careful to scent out
the popular trend and to follow the peo-
pie, the object being to get office rather
than to lead the people to the truth and
to better things. These are really as
false. to the people as the scheming
politicians who are In politics to look
after special corporate interests.
Our System Failure.
Our education is largely a failure.
stand for radical reforms. Educa-
ton should be real preparation for
the real duties of life. It should be
the chief factor In the development Of
our industries, and the elevation of the
homes of the humblest.
"The small white farmer, the hope
Of our state. has been neglected. His
needs have, been ignored. Not for him
are the colleges. Not for his children
are Clemson and Winthrop. Tie estab-
lishment OF these Industrial colleges
was in the right direction, but we have
done wrong to stop there. In every
county there should be farm school
for boys and home school for girls,
to which the poorest could go and by
their own labor support themselves
while learning, by actually doing un-
der skillful direction the things which
will constitute the chief duties Of their
after-lives. There is no proper train
ing in South Carolina today for the life
work Of the great majority Of our peo-
Pile in the work shop. the field, the
orchard, the dairy, the garden, the
kitchen, the home with its manifold de-
mands upon the laboring father and
the laboring mother. Here are the
rroblems OF cleanliness and wholesome
less, of thrift and prosperity, Of health
and character and happiness. The home
Is the unit of our civilization and our
government. 1t is blasphemy to call
education a preparation for life when
II makes no attempt to prepare for
the labors that constitute our occupa-
tions and make our homes.
Clemson College.
Our colleges need reforms In order
to fulfill their mission Of preparing
leaders in thought and in industry. /
shall direct my remarks especially to
Clemson college. The textile depart
ment will not accomplish its purpose
until the state provides scholarships for
bright young men to be selected from
the help in the cotton mills. Those
whose lives are already cast in the
mill work will have the preliminary
knowledge of machinery and of the ac-
tual conditions and problems to enable
them to profit most by course in a
textile school, training them to be
skilled master workmen In their call
ing. One hundred and twenty Of these
Young mill hands at all times being
educated by their state to the highest
skill and mastery, along with the same
number from the farms now provided
with supporting scholarships to take
the agricultural course at Clemson,
would prove blessing to the state. In
less than a decade we should feel the
uplift Of life in the mill villages. What
mill president and what mill communi-
ty would not welcome the inspiring and
uplifting influence of broadly educated
native superintendent and bosses?
This is the great need today both Of
the mill business and Of the mill life.
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