Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-02
A Sensible Letter

Dear Miss Thomas tand Household: SeVeral
have given some practical ideas on education,
but l would like to say a few words, taken
FROM soiOurn over eiClt states ana Two terri
tories. south of Mason and DixOn's line.
/. From the beginning of their settlement our
forefathers took a deep interest In educatloh'
One OF lheir first acts was 10 establish sys-
TEN Of free schools, and as early as IN lo1 s
colony. In New England except Rhode island
and few adults were unable to read and write
Today there are several states in which laws
tween The ages OF seven and fourteen years TO
attend school for a certain portion OF each
year. In some of these state laws there Is a
clause prohibiting manufacturers and others
from employing children between the ages or
ten and fourteen, who have not WITHIN the pre-
ceding year, attended school for the number OF
Some may say that an education is not of any
Importance. but we know that an ignorant
cessfully. MOnarchial and aristOcratic forms Oh
government msy be better maintained My keep
ing their subjects in ignorance; but for the CON
tinuance OF democratic Institutions, the euueA-
tion of the citizens IS a necessity.
Much OF the prosperity of our government as
a republic. is due to the system OF common
schools established by every state In the union,
at which the children of all ages may be taught
at public expenses, thus giving the children OF
the poor an equal chance with those OF inc
rich for acquiring common school educatlon
There are ten thousand children In Georgia,
and pretty much the same I'm the other south
ern states, every year who pass the school age
totally iliterate Every child whose life rec
old Is Swallowed, yes, blackened, because OF ITS
rights TO education, to training, TO freedom to
develop physically. mentally, morally, spirltu-
ally was denied him. is evidence of the failure
Of the parents TO live up TO the great light
which Christ left to their keeping.
How are our public schools supportedf Meth
er the article Of confederation the con-
stitution granted the general government any
authority in regard to a system Of education IN
the states; but ii early recognized the neces-
sity OF such work. and has always found force
in ways and means 10 assist greatly in the edu-
cational advancement Of the people
Besides tic proceeds from the sale OF swamps
and overlooked lands granted by the general
government, each state has its own appropria-
tons All Of the states of the west have re
served a certain portion of their lands Tor edu-
catiOnal purposes. In 1885 surplus fund OF
about thirty million dollars had accumulated In
the natloanl treasury: BY an act OF con-
gress this fund was distributed among the eX-
listing states for the support of public schools.
Besides all, Of these we have to some ex-
tent local taxation which is the greatest
Several have given some very good-looklng rem
edies but l am afraid they are not practical
enough to make the desired change. The pres
ent mos deplorable conditions and circumstances
Of a great many, majority, Of the southern
farmers demand a quick change. When we
think of the millions of poor, neglected eNl-
dren growing up in gross ignorance, soon to be
turned out upon the cold world without ne
necessary equipments of life cur hearts are
made very sad. The picture is indeed heart
rending, we can see for them only life OF
want, misery, grief and slavery. Poor Souls !
I would help such IL i could and my honest
opinion is that a compulsory system of educa-
tion would bring about a great change for the
better. There are parents that take more IN
terest in the almighty dollar and their mules
and COWS. than they do I'm their children's edd-
cation. II is such parents as these that we
need compulsory laws for, and truant officer
should see why their children are not at school
every day. Their some that kick like a
blind mule and say all sorts Of things about this
being a free country, when the subject OF com
pulsOry education is mentioned, but If you nit
a dog he is sure to boiler. .
The time is coming when the south VIII nave
compulsory education, and / hope 1T will be IN
the near future. 1t is true IT would be hard
on some people for while; but II would not
be hard on the people as a whole, and our
future prosperity and civilization depends oA
the children who are, or should be- in school
Is Il not cheaper to educate the young or OFT
country, than II is to brand them as criminals
In later years and send them to the pen, or
gollows?
II is an axiom in political science that unless
a people are educated and enlightened, IT is
idle TO expect the continuance Of civil liberty
or the capacity for self-gOvernment.
Bpt' nevertheless, you will hear men boast
fncly pat themselves on the breast and say,
Look what have accomplished, and never
went to school, all told, but three months IN
my life" Let us put our shoulders TO the
wheel of progress and turn her one more notch,
aud see what a bright future there will be for
the youths OF today that Will be the men ana
women of tomorrow.
Wishing you a long and happy life, am,
Yours to the finish.
WIN. HENRY HIGGINS.
Route 2, Sherman. Grayson Co., Tex.