The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-09-11

i W eaD oNaNO bEAACA VI kAC0tNA WV WV
than do these self-sacrinciDg teachers
Of our common schools.
Further Extension Of School Term
Urged.
The term OF the common school
should be heightened, so that the
pupils may have a better and fairer
opportunity to become thoroughly
grounded in each study. We should
raise the standard OF our common
schools to point commensurate with
the needs of this advanced age, so
that when the youth of our state shall
have completed the course prescribed
and goes forth with buoyant yet quick
ly pulsating heart to engage in the
great battle of life, he may feel that
and to win in the struggle in which
he is to engage. 10 is not every boy
who can have the advantage of a col
legiate training and to these the state
owes the duty OF providing the best
public school facilities possible
The future of the state depends
upon the boys, and greatly upon the
boys who can gain no further educa-
ton than that afforded by our COM
mon schools.
The history of our country shows II
Is not those greatly favored in a world
ly way and who have had the advan-
tages of college education that have
attained the largest measure of sue
cess. Some, II not most, Of our great
statesmen and generals have come
from the ranks OF the obscure. An
drew Jackson, born in a log hut in
the plney woods OF North Carolina,
with but little education and no means,
passed from abject poverty into the
exalted station of president of the
United States. Daniel Webster left
the pillow on his fathers farm in New
Hampshire and Numbered his way
into the United States senate. Our
own beloved Clay The mill boy of
the slashes." left his humble home in
the valleys OF Virginia to become in
the national congress a figure and a
power as great as the greatest of the
great men Of his age. Ulysses S.
Grant turning from his fathers tan
merry I'm Illinois, led the embattled
hosts of the North to victory over the
brave and gallant sons OF the South,
and made for himself a record that
twice elevated him to the chief magis-
tracy OF our nation. Down in LaRue
county, in log hut on a little farm.
was born a type of that rugged but
lofty American manhood, Abraham
Lincoln. who by the sheer force Of
will and his native intelligence forged
his way into the while house and oc-
cupies in history place, and in the
Hall of Fame a niche attained by few
Of Americas great men. Thus we
cannot say to what heights they may
attain who are born in Obscurity and
poverty.
Make State College Great University
Touching the question Of higher ed
ucation in the state, It is my opinion
that the state college should be made
a university equal to the best I'm the
land; a university with a standard so
high. with such variety and flexibility
Of courses, and with such equipment
and apparatus for demonstration, that
graduates Of other first-class institu-
tions may not feel the necessity Of
leaving the state to pursue POSTCARD
uate courses.
I hope to see this great school the
pride of every teacher in the state;
aye, of every other educational institu-
ton in the state. The opportunity to
build up a great university for the
South is better here in Kentucky than
in any other state south OF Mason and
Dixon's line. If elected governor |
shall favor all well considered and
feasible plans to make this college
such a university as | have described.
Child Who Labors Not Overlooked.
In connection with the subject of
education | am led to give brief at
tention to the agitation for laws pro-
hibiting the employment of children
below a certain age, in mines and
factories and commonly designated
Child Labor Laws" The children of
the state, and especially those among
the poorer class, need such legislation
far more than the wage they would
earn. for 1t is essential. in order that
they may be prepared to meet the re-
sponsibilities of citizenship, that they
have some training that fits them TO
understand the principles and policy
OF government. and il is also due the
state OF which they are to become
citizens and voters, that as far as
possible they should be so trained. 1t
is upon the principle and reason,
therefore. that the youth of our state
should enjoy every possible chance
for education that such laws should
be enacted and made effective.
There is no more pitiable sight than
that of young and tender boys and
Eirls wearing away their lives i'm the
smoky factory or dismal mine, evinc-
Ing in their colntenances the unsalu-
tary effect of the confinement and
strain incident to the work But it is
not alone or perhaps chiefly upon this
ground. or for the reason that the
physical growth and development of
the boy and girl may be stunted and