The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1909-07-06
The Interior Journal.
Z. c. WALTON

SOME criticisms are the result Of lit
tie and oftentimes erroneous knowl-
edge gained from limited observation,
or from reports Of those who are not
friendly to nor interested in the public
schools.
The Danville Advocate, we regret to
say, is not an advocate Of advanced
movements, If we are to judge from its
protestations against Kentucky's most
salient points of progress, her schools
and school laws. There is one excep-
ton, however, and that is with the pro-
viso that the educational institutions be
located at Danville. Let US give an
item which few people are considering,
/. e., the Institute for the States deaf
and dumb. This institution, within
Danville, costs the State about SIS, 900
per year, or a sum equivalent to the an
nual appropriation for both Normal
Schools, tho only 100 INDECENT children
were trained there last year. We would
not for one moment minimize the work
of ministering to the unfortunate, but
we would magnify the importance OF
giving to all the States children, es-
peciaIly to those possessed of all their
faculties, the very best that can posi-
bly, accrue to them. Sana mems in sano
corpore is the highest aim. and we
should not be loathe to make every pro-
vision possible in order that such per-
sons may be more productive and use
full citizens. Let our esteemed con-
temporary fight more for the good. and
cultivate more flowers and pull fewer
weeds. Better to fight for the good
than to rail at the ill.," We do not ap-
prove of doing everything because our
sister States do, but considering the
fact that many other States, more than
40 in number are in the van. it most
certainly behooves US to lift the veil
from our eyes and let the brighter light
shine in. The educators and Legislators
seeing that heroic measures were nec-
essary, yielded to their best judgment
and passed the measures so odious to
the man who has not the perspective
for optimistic vision. A reference to
the graded school proposition of Perry
vile will convince one of the fallacious
arguments used to try to defeat the
purpose of the new law. Perryville
can have a graded school and let ALL
her revenue stay in her own town.
which it is claimed she is sending away.
The enormous (?) levy of two cents
made by her fiscal court will not pau
perize the inhabitants of Boyle. 1t is
not the Normal school, nor the State
University that is bankrupting the
State, but let US consider what other
expenses are being paid. There was
appropriated for House of Refuge fol
Criminal Youths, at Lexington, S225.'
900. Would this sum be necessary
were Kentucky's educational position
as high up the scale as it ought to be-
Then there was stupendous sum spen
for military service, which failed to d.
good, in the futile pursuit of the nox
ious night rider. May we ask whether
the N. r. was product Of the educat
ed class or not? Do we yet see the
need of heroic measures for more uni
versal training?
One more item that considerably at.
fected the treasury is our splendid State
Capitol. which with its equipment K
rated at a million plus. Lay not the
sin of treasury, with its bottom ex-
posed, at the door of educational ap-
preparations. Though said in Jocular
way, there is modicum of truth in she
statement that to get the favor Of our
nepotic friends you must locate same
institution in their domain, whether it
be U. s. Military Academy or a State
Normal School. One more point, and
that in regard to the value of the Nor
mai to the rural schools. More than
1000 teachers, nine tenths of them in
rural districts, are being instructed in
their art, and these 60 back to our
children in their home districts the bet
ter prepared to give of their replenish-
ed storehouse. We are glad to note
that the head Of Danville's own public
school system is not blinded to the good
of these Normal Schools as he is profit
ing by them. The object of these is to
enable the teacher to do q greater
amount of work and to do it satisfacto-
rily. We would respectfully suggest
that more of DIR. limits wholesome
words be published. Look not upon
everything as pernicious which does
not give to self the supreme ad-
vantage. Are the citizens Of our neigh
boring county chafing under the onerous
yoke of giving $4,000, according to
their own statement to help raise Ken
lucky from the bondage of illiteracy!
n ooh ,,nan the ruattar mora lika Iaw.