The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-12-16
AN INSTITUTION WITH
A MISSION or ITS OWN

Granting The sincerity Of those gem
tlemen who take the view that Okla
homa las too many state schools and
even conceding modicum of merit
ii their IDEAS, It cannot be question
ea that their violent attacks and the
mdiscriminate manner in which they
have prosecuted their campaign have
had the effect Of creating prejudice
against all the institutions for higher
education that are maintained BY the
state
While in the country at large, east,
west, north and south. the question
Of the duty Of the state to maintain
such institutions has long since pass.
ed the period OF discussion, BY reason
os the general assaults made upon
them in Oklahoma, tending to dis
credit all higher education, Il appears
tina. we must 90 back and take up
TIE argument where Il was left off in
the older states half century or
more ago and once more demonstrate
that the college, the university and
the normal are essential parts Of "a
system OF state education. IL one
were to Judge from the tone Of some
o. the critics he would draw the in
ference that such schools are merely
a cunningly devised scheme for loot
Ing the state treasury in the inter
est Of a few favored communities,
since the matter Of benefits to the
state, present and future, are gener-
ally totally ignored in their fnlmina-
tion paraded as part Of the program
foe necessary tax reduction the plan
OF economizing by abolishing schools
nc, only finds favor among the tax
payers who are eager for reform, but
also appeals to demagogues who are
ever ready to fill their sails with any
popular wind The effect Of all this
is decidedly unfortunate to the state,
tending as II does to create a reac,
tionary sentiment in the state which
IS bound TO impede the progress Of
Oklahoma in the future The ques-
tiol as to the number and the kind
81 state schools that should be main.
iained is one that is fairly open to
debate, but when the discussion is
carried on in such a fashion as to
have the effect to which we have re-
ierled, IL is high time to protest ia
the name Of common sense and pro-
sress.
i IS easily demonstrable that the
saving that could be accomplished by
striking down our state schools is a
mere bagatelle in comparison with
our total tax biz and that economics
Of far greater extent can be effected
in other lines without imperiling our
educational system and giving it a
black-eye il the estimation Of the
country at large.
Among the Institutions which the
state Of Oklahoma saw fit to estab
lisli is the industrial institute and col
ieso fer girls, now briefly designated
tha Oklahoma College for Women.
In creating this school. Oklahoma fol
loved the lead Of numerous other pro
gressive states that have recognized
ana responded to the need for speciai
facilities, designed to develop the
highest type Of womanhooa. It woulC
seem Chat the necessity for a college
o this character is 50 apparent thaf
n8 defense Of it should be necessary
but in the midst Of the anti-schoo
Fpsade, even the welfare Of our girls
is not exempt from attack. We an,
toid that the university, the A. q NJ
college and the normal schools ar,
oper to boys and girls alike, and why
tfey inquire, should separate insti
tuition be maintained FOR the girls
Then comes forward the fellow Whs
says he is FOR eo-edueation, first. las
anc al the time and, therefore, NJ
Girls school for him.
Both Of these criticisms may be an
swercd at the same time and tha
Without going deeply into the merritt
81 the mooted question of coednca
gloe Admitting thai ihe schools re
ieffed 20 ar2 npen % our girls ani