The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-08-28


we were nevertheless responsible, but
now that we arc fully aware Of our
unfortunate condition we are doubly
responsible II we do not respond to IT,
The precious Jewels OF the common
wealth are It's children. The future
Of the state depends upon them and
they depend on us. Are we going
to polish them with an education to
NJ them for life's duties and obliga-
tons and citizenship, or are we going
to allow them to grow up In Ignorance
10 become paupers and criminals? II
Is a burning question which appeals
to manhood, which appeals to intelli-
gence, which appeals to our hearts.
Have we heard the cry which comes
from the mountains and from the
isolated sections all over Kentucky?
I, for one have heard Il. It has been
ringing in my ears for ten years or
more and neither my pen nor voice
shall become silent In answering II
until every educated man and woman
in the state realizes our needs and
recognizes the possibilities. As
the aged Hamalcar in his camp fires
swore the infant Hannibal to eternal
hatred for Rome, so | would swear
you now by the intelligence which
beams in your eyes. by the cnthusi-
asm which runs In your veins and by
the love which Is in your hearts, to
swear an eternal hatred for ignorance
and illiteracy until we have wiped It
from our borders.
What we need In Kentucky is pub
lie sentiment for the public schools,
TOR laws without public sentiment VIII
not solve our problem. We need .
public sentiment which. will impress
the fact that greater obligation rests
upon the parents to educate their
children than upon the state. and that
they ought to be willing to pay more
for II than the state.
That the best way to create local
interest in the local school is a local
tax and as proof of this, it should be
shown that all the best schools have
a local tax and all the worst schools
are without it.
That the district trustee should be
as much interested in the teacher
and his teaching as the teacher is in
his school. That the school house
should be as good and as attractive
as any home in the district.
That when we know under the new
cAh rxyh1 thA 20 oh IL
dren live, it will become the duty Of
the people of that district to see that
these children are sent to school and
provide clothing and shoes il the
parents are too poor to provide them.
That the teacher should be more
commended for what he is able to ac-
complish and less criticized for what
he is unable to do.
That moonlight schools for the
adults will pay better than moonshine
stills.
That the office of county school
superintendent is the most important
IN the country.
That 1t is more important to edu.
cate all the people some, than few
Of the people great deal.
That we do not need to teach dead
languages in live country except
within the walls of university.
That those things which will be OF
most value to a boy and girl after
they leave school should be the things
which should be taught first and best.
That the children's minds should
not be puzzled over Greek roots when
they do not know the difference be-
tween calamus root and poke root.
That the conjugation of the verb
"amo" need not be taught in the
school because the boys and girls
learn it soon enough outside the
school.
That the unknown quantities of al
zebra had better remain unknown
than that a boy should remain igno-
rant of the soil quantities of his
fathers farm.
That the time spent in making in.
different performances on the piano
could be better utilized in abolishing
bad biscuits from the breakfast table
That the public school ought to get
In the newspaper and the newspaper
In the public school.
While you may not agree with me
in all Of these things, you will GER
tainly agree with me in most Of them.
The question is how are we going to
create this public sentiment.
mn l. Il a.
do it even when he does his best.
He is handicapped by the very nature
Of the case. We must look to tho edu-
Gated people of this state. Men and
women who will give their time and