The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-11-14

per cent which is receiving the bene-
Tits of this expenditure is composed,
In large measure, of boys and girls
who have already received the ordi-
nary common school education, and
who, if need be, could unaided, COM
plete their education Until Oklaho-
ma gets in position where she can
properly take care of and educate the
thousands and tens of thousands of
boys and girls who are unable to at
tend our state institutions, and give
them at least common school educa-
ton, there should be hesitancy in con-
tinuing the policy we have inaugur-
.ated.
] believe in the maintenance of pro-
per higher educational institutions; I
believe also in the maintenance of
proper primary educational opportuni-
ties, and if there is to be neglect at
the expense of either, it should be the
higher educational institution But
there is no need for the neglect of
either. Oklahoma is able to provide
adequately for the educational needs
of all Of its people The trouble with
our system is that we have not con-
sidered the welfare of the student
body, but have listened largely to the
|pleadings of real estate dealers, and
other interested citizens in the mat
ter of the establishment and location
of these institutions.
We have in this state two Prepara-
tory Schools, which are supposed to
be schools for the preparation of young
men and young women for entrance in
to the State University. Both of these
schools combined do not send as many
students to the Oklahoma University
las single city high school in this
state; and yet we appropriated to
maintain these schools for the past
two years, $13O,O00. There was in
attendance in these two schools on
the 5th day of December, 1911, 5S9
pupils, making an average cost per
capita to the state more than $4,000;
and none of these students was pur-
suing any study in grades higher than
taught in the average high schools of
Oklahoma. Four hundred sixty-four
Of these pupils live in the two coun-
ties in which these schools are To-
Gated.
The unfairness Of this sort Of
schools is plainly apparent to anyone
who will consider the situation for a
moment. Practically every town of
+ any Importance in Oklahoma, where
one of these higher educational insti-
tutions is note located, maintains, at
the expense of local taxation, high
school for the education of its chill
dren The towns where these schools
are located make no effort at main
tanning local high school, but shift
the entire responsibility upon the gem
erous taxpayers Of the state.
| If the proposition We're made to the
people of Claremore or Tonkawa to
tax themselves for the maintenance
of high school at Hobart or McAles-
/ ter. they would reject the proposition
lupon the ground that it was unfair
and vet when the effort is made to
make the citizens of these towns per-
| form for their own people what the
citizens of other towns are compelled
to do. to-wit, establish a high school
commensurate with the needs OF !ts
citizens, they cry out in horror against
the proposition, and denounce the
man who is bold enough to stand for
a square leal to all of the citizens as
school Killer"
The time has come when the peo.
pie demand arguments 1t is easy en-
ough TO manufacture opprobrious cpl
thets and by playing upon the preJu-
dices Of the people and taking advan-
tage of their devotion to educational
institutions. to stay in some measure
the day of reckoning, but Just so GER
taialy as right prevails and truth is
established, just that certainly will
the day come in Oklahoma when the
unnecessary higher educational insti-
tutions will be abolished.
We have in~this state six schools
which are denominated Normal
Schools" The fact is, we have not
a single real Normal School in the
state. and we can never have as long
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