The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1909-08-27
The Progress and Safety Of the Ma
tim An Educated Citizenship.

mhnn.
The field where the foregoing senti-
ment may find its fullest fruition is in
the schools Of our land. The parents
can and are hereby urged to aid in
strengthening the hands Of teachers,
stimulating educational interest and
arousing the community to genuine
and intelligent pride in the work OF
schools. IL each patron will ask the
following question Of self, !. e.; Am !
doing what can by word and act to
promote the cause Of education by fos-
tering a better spirit toward leaders In
the work by helping to train the youth
TO habits Of obedience to delegated au-
thorities. rather than be rebellious, and
10 help 10 educate the whole child, IN
preparing him not only to live, but to
enjoy life. Let US first look at some
fruits OF education. Some one Will say
I know a man without any education
who has made success, also man
with education who is dismal failure.
We will grant this. but know that each
illustration is conspicuous for its rarity.
Let IA look at striking example. Take
the number OF prison inmates and look
Mt the overwhelmingly large percentage
Of illiterates in any prison. and then be
bold enough to assert that education
does not make better citizen.
Craft and avarice. gold and iron can
not rear a State. but when the State
house is the hearthstone, the safety OF
our nation is about to come and Is as
sured. Help the State to progress by
intoxicating desires for learning and in
spring respect for teachers so that the
teacher may do his best work, and by
creating high aspirations. We should
not only have high aspirations but also
possess the courage TO try to realize
them; for as Emerson says: That
which BELTS US. embosomed in beauty
and wonder as we are. is cheerfulnsSs
and courage. and the endeavor TO real
lie our aspirations. IL would appear
10 a close observer that most of us are
too indulgent to ourselves and our child
rem. Pestalozzi. the great educational
reformer. said: 81 see indulgence de-
spoihng the highest moral, spiritual
and civil interests. and sapping the life
blood Of our race"
When this indulgence becomes so pa
tent that parents and citizens permit
the youth Of our land TO be deprived OF
that one good gift TO all, whether rich
or poor. another reformation Is due.
Shall we suffer within Of the child or
a criticism against some one. TO shut
the child from an education? Shall
homeless, pleasures. feigned dislike OF
confinement, criticisms or any other
creature separate the child from that
possession, the accretion Of which pre-
pares and produces well rounded man
or woman fit for all the duties Of life ?
The president-emerius of Harvard Uni
versity said in recent lecture: The
American public has more faith in ed
u.ation as a means to the wholesa.
Improvement Of human conditions than
in any other agency. Let the citizens
of Lincoln county and every other coun-
~ show their belief in this proposition
by entering heartily into the support of
every educational enterprise. Will this
not make for the progress and safety
of our nation
An educated citizenship prevents civ
ic strife. Wars have ceased with the
progress Of education. Since we know
that "civic strife can turn the happiest
hearth into a grievous sore Of self tor
menting earth" we are more anxious
TO increase educational pride and thus
do away with civic strifes. May the
beams of mercy shine on every son and
daughter Of our old Commonwealth and
community until all shall hail the edu-
cational millennium.
We may all get JOY from our SUR
roundings IL we but make the best OF
them. Do not think that other towns
are all better, that better conditions
obtain elsewhere. and that far away
schools are tne pest
"For things far off we toll, while
many good
Not sought. because too near, is never
gained"
Cadse plentitude Of good feeling t.
permeate the place in which you live
give the best that's in you and the bes
will come back to you. Be as slow t
criticize fault as to praise virtue
not only in educational affairs but al
civic affairs. Let each so live, act. ed
ucate. that the thoughts of our pas
years will breed in us perpetual bene
dictions. We do not claim that Stan
ford High School is the best in tn,
State. but we do claim for 1t a superi
GRITTY over many Of its kind. and tn.
citizens have made II possible by thei