Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-05-29

TO GRADUATES
CONTINUED from page u

ed. IL Is therefore strictly within the
province of the state-nay, it is its
duty, in the exercise of it's police pow.
ers, as it were-to see that the young
are SO taught and trained that they
may understand and appreciate the
responsibilities which presently will
be cast upon their shoulders and be
inclined to the proper performance
of them. Hence the power of the
state to tax the whole body of citizens
to maintain schools at the public eX-
pense, and require all alike to receive
the benefits afforded by them
The founders of our government
fully understood the significance and
necessity of general intelligence as a
safeguard to our institutions. Almost
as soon as the republic was born our
behalf.
Hence it is that large areas of the
public lands have been bestowed up
on the several states for the establish
ment and support of schools and col.
leges. Hence it is that We submit
to heavy burdens in the way of taxes
to maintain them and make them eff
cient. Hence it is that society, by
common consent. invades the home
and compels parents either to educate
their children at their own expense or
to permit them to attend the public
schools during a part of each year.
1t is not contemplated however,
that technical or professional educa-
ton should be bestowed at the ex-
pense of the state. AS soon as the
pupil has mastered the elementary
branches and has been sufficiently
taught to enable him to understand his
relation to society and to have aspir-
ations of his own, the rights and du.
ties are at an end, and he must be
left to realize his aspirations in his
own way. To do less for him would
be to leave him, and to that extent
the state, prey to ignorance. To do
more tends to destroy those qualities
of self-reliance and independence
which makes a strong and efficient
citizens. Our institutions are in nc
sense founded upon the paternal idea
The government owes no citizen any
duty other than the protection of his
life and liberty and the right to pur.
sue his happiness in his own way
The spirit of the times, however, is
opposed to this view. The notion OF
the present day is to have all education
done at the expense of the public
Hence the inclination to enlarge the
curricula and introduce classical and
other higher studies through the me
dunn of high schools. In some branch.
es, mainly the mechanical and purely
scientific. technical and professional
training is given. In my opinion this
is of questionable propriety. 1t pro
ceeds upon the theory that our gov
eminent is a paternal institution and
owes the individual citizen the means
of livelihood Again. in providing
free instruction in these branches. il
discriminates against the class of citi
zens who do not care to pursue the
study of them. If there be schools in
which engineers mechanics and chem
lists are fitted for profitable employ
ment, then the law should provide for
schools of law. medicine, dentistry
and all other professions.
Better practical results would be OBJ.
tanned, in my opinion, if the atten.
ton of our state government was de-
voted more earnestly and intelligently
TO increasing the efficiency of the COM
mon schools within their legitimate
province. This could be done in many
ways: First eliminate all classics en-
cept English, and let the effort be ti-
rected to a more thorough and rigid
training in the history and theory of
our American government. and the ira
ditions and literature of our own peo-
pie. The average person scarcely ever
has use for Latin or Greek, or any
other language but his own-if he has,
he will acquire it when the necessity
arises. In the second place, the stand.
ard of qualification in teachers employ.
ed is too low. Such compensation
should be provided that men and WON
en- will be encouraged to fit them
selves thoroughly for the work ant
pursue it as profession. instead o
resorting to it as temporary eXpe
dent and a stepping stone to some
thing more remunerative. None shoult
be employed but professional teach
ers, trained as experts, who, by rea
son of their requirements and eXper
fence can meet the varied demands
made upon them by the Homogeneous
elements of our mixed population. The
purpose is to make citizens. in the
United States the sovereignty is vest
ed, not in the few, but in the many
The masses are called upon to consid
err every kind of social and political
question affecting the welfare of the
country. The principles of human lib.
erty, schemes for internal improve
ment, questions of finance and educa
ton, our relations with other coun.
tries-these are some of the weighty