The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-05

should continue our efforts 10 advance our standards of admission, making them uniform in institutions of the same char acter We should divorce our common schools and higher institutions of learning from the baneful influences of political domination and by securing Legislation which made the appropriations for our higher institutions of learning uniform and permanent, prevent the necessity of the lobbying log rolling and political ac- tivity which under fine present system Is now required from the officials and oifi- cers of, each institution of higher learn ing in the state.
 Conclusion
 Under former civilization, where the aristocratio idea prevailed. the masses were left in ignorance taught only 10 ac- cept without murmur their lot, however miserable or degraded. as a necessary dis of providence. Education was considered to be alone required for the preparation of the privileged few Tor leadership, but with the growth Of the democratic spirit. the overthrow of inc feudal system, the breaking of the shackles of religious intolerance and the emancipation of the human intellect from the tyranny from privilege and caste, and the recognition of the equal civil and re- ligious rights of the masses of the people new era of liberty dawned upon the earth. It was like the bursting of an arc tie summer after the long, dreary arctic night of ignorance and superstition With all sovereignty vested in the masses of the people and not in the privileged few the perpetuitys of our free institu- tions and the preservation of an enllght- ened and advancing civilization alike de- mand that ignorance be banished from our borders and that opportunities for ed- ueation be afforded to the rich and poor alike Ignorance has always been the deadly foe of liberty and orderly govern ment. Equality of opportunity in tho struggles of life guaranteed by our con stitution would have but little meaning or significance if the state denied equal educational opportunities or questioned the inherent right of every child the chance and privilege of developing to it's fullest capacity every power he may possess for effective service both prblic and private Educational opportunity means that our system of education must be so adjusted as 10 meet the pressing needs of our people in their every day life.
 'ft has been truly said that scarcely , per cent of our people ever reach the college or university. Hence indus trial education to fit the boy and girl to meet and solve every day problems,
  efficiency and happiness and to qualify them to earn the bread of independenc- is a necessary and commendable ten dency of modern educational thought. We should, however, avoid the danger in our insistence upon industrial edu- cation of swaying to the extreme ut men with vocation with out cultural education. We should rath- CT seek to combine the vocational and the cultural and should not in our zeal for technical or industrial education seek to convert our young men into mere machines, fitted to do their work with skill, but dragging them down to the dead level of mercenary material ism. Grave problems confront our fu- ture We should educate a citizef siii D not merely to win success in indus trial pursuits, equipped 10 perform with intelligence and skin their daily tasks, but we should also prepare them to discharge public duties and responsi- bilities with that intelligence which American citizenship demands. With an educated and cultured citizenship our future will be secure. The visionary schemes of sincere but misguided men. the radical policies and revolutionary doctrines which now menaces our fu- ture will be dissipated by tho search light of truth and reason when applied bs an intelligent and cultured citizen