The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-03-10
WORU TO PARENTS.

|
The chief concern Of tho father
and mothcr with true parental in
stinct is for the future walfara Of
\ their children--Their first desire is,
that their boys and girls shall grow
into men and women strong in char
+t3cter, ctc1u in fife, useful as citizens
and capable Of maintaining their in
dependence and making their own
way in the world successfully. Such
a preparation for life must of course
be the combined result Of different
influences; but chief among them all
is education.
The most important period in the
leducation Of the individual is that
II from the twelfth to the eighteenth
or twentieth year. 1t is in these
years tha; powers arc developed,
is formed. 1T is then that the youth
discovers himself and forms ambl-
tions for the future. He then be-
i gins TO realize his relations to socie-
~, to understand the duties of citi-
Zenfhip and TO acquire independence
Of thought and action.
r It is the particular function O: the
high school to provide the training
necessary for tnis critical period in
iii the eduee.tiea of TIE individual
+ It IS nc. surprising, therefore, to
find that the people of America are
chcerfully and eagerly spending mil
liens OF dollars in building high
1 schools and supporting n 3rn.----With,,
! in the past twenty-five years the
number Of high schools in the Unit
! ed States has increased from 500 to
more than 5000, and i. has become
| the ambition CT every State to place
within easy reach OF all its youth
the educational advantages that the
high school affords. " ,
| West Virginia has not made the
progress in this movement that
many other States have made. For
the most part only the towns an@
ties of the safe are provided with
high schools, and few arc to be
Sound in our village and country
| communities. This means shat a
ma iority of the boys and girls OF
West Virginia must drop out OF
school just at the time when the dis
ciDline and training Of the school
| could have the greatest influence in
| shaping their lives. They are thus
| placed e., a disadvantage in the COM
| petition of life which in most cases
on never be entirely overcome Are
| We going 20 allow this condition or
affairs to continue?
L. lies within the power OF prac-
ticaily every community in West Vir=
| ,inia to have high school within
convenient reach Of all its people.
To do so will, to be sure, make nee
>ssary Il slightly increased tax rate.
A dollar, two dollars Or five dollars
fnay be added annually to the taxes
| Il the property owner. But what
| 2rc- few dollars here or there when
4 HCntrasted with the rich returns that
% small an investment is capable OF
4 bringing to tho tax payers, children,
i Shall We VINO are parents talk
against and vote against an effort
% provide for our children that preB-
| oration for TffG which the age de-
nands ard which the competition Of
life makes necessary If they are mot
to ie worsted by it? 1t is not the
luality or. parental concern and af-
S"ctiCn TO refuse q benefit SO lasting
md 50 Chcaply bestowed. Most Of
, rs will not be able to leave to our
, children heritage Of wealth; for
.uncs come to tho hands of only q
few. We can, however, provide fol
hei" future in d better way. a few
iCilars expended now in the way Of
additional taxes will provide for
*hom be tier educational advantages
and will bring within their reach
al equipment for life that viii cna-
bic them to make their own way in
the wcrld successfully and independ-
aully. Such heritage will be Of in
GDitc]y more value to them tnon Il
legacy Of thousands in money.