The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-28

"A healthy child endowed with the ca
pacity for, and imbued with spirit
of. social service. that is actually ths
greatest asset to the State. And =
the State is to be permanent, 1t must
be the basis of all other assets.
Physical Development.
II this statement OF the function
of public education is "A sound ons:
IL the raison detre of the public
school Is the conservation OF the child
the future man-and his develops
ment in efficiency as a citizen. and
not merely as an individual. then the
effort of the State to educate him
must consciously include in its pro-
gram his physical development
throughout his period of growth. In
order to make and keep him healthy.
1t must include his mental develop
ment, to increase his capacity for
serving the State. 1t must include
his moral or spiritual development.
to Undue him with the spirit OF SER
vice. And with this healthy body,
with the mind trained. with the heart
imbued with spirit OF service. the
consideration. Improvement and sat
nonic and other questions would fol-
low inevitably. with increasing satis-
/ faction both from the individual and
! from the social standpoints. There
/ can be no comprehensive discussion
! or settlement of those conditions on
which national efficiency depends. ex-
cept from the standpoint OF a public
education which consciously trains
and conserves the future citizen In
body. mind and spirit for community
service. No other organization II
comparable to the public schools for
doing this work. With Its twenty
million children. It stretches through
this whole nation into every State.
and city. and county. and district
and town. and village, and ,commun.
ity, and home.
Upon these three things-health,
trained capacity. and desire to b
Of service to the State---hang all the
law OF public education and all pro-
| phecies OF It's regenerative influences
on society.
This. fellow-cit!zens Of common
country, ] believe to be the proper
Ideal and hone and aspiration" Of
u Americans in regard to their
schools THIS Is fundamental demOc-
racy. And we should take a national
! view OF IL: An ignorant child in vir-
! GINA. II he grows up to be ignorant.
| is not only an ignorant citizen OF ytr.
ginia. but an ignorant citizen Of the
United States. A vicious boy in iii.
! nols, II he becomes vicious citizen
Of Illinois. becomes at the same time
vicious citizen Of the United States.
| 4 sickly child in New York should
arouse alarm in North Carolina. a
child without the opportunity for
| schooling In Arkansas should be .
matter OF grave concern In Califor.
/ mia. Brethren. We be one.
| No community. or county. or city.
! or State liveth unto itself We are
i all members Of one body--the great
| American body. Let US see to e
that those Of us who live and labor
In one fertile and growing part a.
/ this great nation shall help to train
| through the schools q citizen "
through the schools a citixenship a
which we need not be ashamed II
any condition or crises-of war 81
peacef-that can possibly arise. II 4
not money that Is most needed. -
that which money cannot buys coSl-
secrated leadership that not only
proa ciaes a crusade, bwt ifves 4 cru.
SADIE, In behalf OF American chiid-
hood.