The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-01-24
THE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

when the spirit OF democracy pei ho-
ates the whole world and when the
dignity of labor is exalted and appre-
ciated as never before, it is almost
beyond comprehension that we Lave
here in this community those who
speak slightingly of the public
schools and who talk about our de
generate" high school. In the meet
ing Saturday it was charged by prom
inent citizens that to provide build
ings and equipment like the Column
bia Military Academy for the Boys
and girls of the Maury County High
School would be outrageous" Eek
travagant' and one speaker, min
lister of the gospel of the First Dem
oorat of the World, compared the use
of this equipment for such purpose
to the burning of fine mahagony tim
| Der when cheap coal was available.
The idea seemed to be that to ues
splendid buildings and adequate
equipment for the two hundred and
more boys and girls of the high school
of this county would be like casting
pearls before swine"
| The Herald most emphatically re-
sents the insinuation that the use OF
the plant and equipment of the Co
lumbia Military Academy for the &C
commodation of the boys and girls of
the Maury County High School would
be outrageous" or in any sense i'm
proper or that such use would In any
way degenerate" that property. On
the contrary we make bold to pro-
claim that the use of these buildings
and lands for the education in prac-
tical things of the boys and girls who
attend the local high school would
contribute infinitely more to the sood
of humanity, to the advancement OF
the material and intellectual good of
the community than their use fol a
Ll6h ~ lSCu 'lAb man ooho cNiOoi,
such as it has been in the past. And
this statement is made with the very
highest appreciation of and regard for
the work done by the Columbia Mill
tary Academy.
But school where the boys and
girls of Maury county, whether the
sons and daughters of rich or poor,
whether they come from the field, the
workshop or the laps of luxury,
where all will have an equal opportu-
nifty to prepare themselves for the
real work and duties of life, will do
indefinitely more for the real uplift
and advancement of this community
than school which limits its oppor-
tunities to the exceptionally well to
do.
In other words we believe that an
institution where all the sons and
daughters of this county who desire
it, may have, at public expense, the
opportunity to prepare themselves
for something useful in life, to make
two blades of grass grow where one
grew before will be better for the
community, for the interests of sCcie-
ty and for the progress of the world |
than an institution limited to the ia.
vored few where boys are likely to
learn to spend two dollars where they
are fitted to earn but one.
1t ought to require no argument to |
demonstrate that what we need most |
in this day and time is better prepare !
ton upon the part of our boys and !
girls-the rulers of tomorrow--for !
the battle of life. They should be |
taught how to make living what /
ever talent thew may have should be |
developed and Dedicated to the high |
est use, distinct service to Almighty |
God. They should go to institutions
where they will imbibe the spirit of
real democracy, where the dignity of |
labor will be exalted and where no !
caste spirit can or will be fostercd
The idea that the high school of
Maury county is an insignificant in
stitution, that the boys and girls who
attend it will degenerate any plant
that may be builded for their accom-
mediation and better instruction, is
one that should be discouraged. 1t
is not worthy Of the proud citizenship
of this great county.
Now what Is the high school of this
city and county against which some
citizens are inveighing, fearing that
its poluting and blighting touch may
fall upon magnificent grounds and
buildings known as the Columbia Mil
itary Academy" One speaker got SO
vehement that he wanted to change
the. terms of the proposed gift so that
the property could be used for private
educational purposes rather than as
the home for the education of the
boys and girls of this county at the