The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-02-16
THE ONE THING NEEDYUL IN KENTUCKY

o.
THE ONE THING SEEDFUL IN KENTUCKY
What is Kentucky's greatest need?
A productive soil? She has il. A
heslthful climate None more salub.
Gus can be found under the canopy OF.
heaven? Mineral wealth. Her hills
are teeming with il A noble history
TO inspire the hearts Of her sons and
daughters with the patriotic fire? The
dauntless herolsm Of our pioneer fore
fathers. the achievements Of Kentucky's
sous on the blood-stained battle Reld.
in pulpit and forum. and in councils Of
state, the illustrious name she has Civ
en- to art. TO law. and TO letters-all
cry No.
The answer TO the question Is ~ he
found in the figures given out by the
Kentucky Educational Improvement
Commission. Over Il per cent Of our
native white vo;sTs wholly iiliterate
and half Of our children not attending
any school, That such a condition Of
affairs can exist in a free state is an.
palling. Without doubt the great
need Of our commonwealth tjday is
popular education.
II is a truth. TO the American people
axiometic, that a state whose dcstinics
are controlled by the popular will il re-.
sponsible foi the education Of lis citi.
zens. Kentucky has recognized this
obligation in her constitution and in
laws passed from time 10 time by the
General Assembly establishing system
Of free schools. The desired end has
been clearly seen. bat the means used
have undeniably proved inadequate.
A system " public schools has been
provided Tor. Where Is Il defcctiyc'
The two essential elements IN every
school are pupils and a teacher. AN
other elements are merely accessory.
Though Kentucky has. perhaps. not
been liberal In providing the acccs series.
she has by no means received
returns her expenditures IN hi,
direction would warrant The one
thing needful must relate 10 one II the
essentials. Kcniucky's compulsory cd.
ucation law and the thousands of her.
children probing IN the darkness Of
ignorance bear silent witness In the
fact that pupils are not waiting Can
Il be that the other essential. the teach.
cr has not been provided for, The
process Of elimination lea j. innuibly
10 this conclusion.
One thousani .cho5ls without tcast.
ers' The large mai rity of On. r.
maindcr with unframed teachers,.
Here iswhere our state has fallen short
u her duty. No intelligent man Wil
permit bis child to be treated. in cas-,
Of illness, by any except one special y
trained for Tie me iical profe sion
No intelligent man, when his PROPERTY
D. involved in litigation, will cmploy
for counsel any except one spccially
trained Tor the leg ! profession. Yet
the percentage Of Kentucky teachers
who have received special training for
the teaching profession IL 80 small "a
to be a negligible quantity.
Our people have shown mere intell.
gence IN the training II their horses
than Of their children. Asa rcuL
our horses are celebrated the world
over A Kentucky farmer wouli nj
think Of intrusting his yaluahl, horr.
to any hut competent trainer. hut
The avrage Kentucky farmer never
thinks Of demanding special prcps ration
on the part OF the trainer Of hn child
And how much more is at s.akel I'm.
employs a po.r trainer and his hor.e
Is ruined, he may luy another hor..
and empl y a letter trainer. N hs
shild's Intellect is ~ ned by poor teach.
ing, the loss is irreparable and tho