The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-20
10 KEEP BOYS m SCHOOL.

and girls back to school by personal let
tiers in which he sums up briefly but
definitely . few Of the arguments IN
favor Of education most likely to apr
peal to boys and girls Of the restless
ago in city VI country. The letter 70
boys IL given herewith. not because It
IL necessarily q model. but because 1t
typifies the newer conception Of the
schools duty to the community ana at
the same time illustrates q practical
method Of making the school known to
those who most need it-the boys and
girls Of II to is years OF age. The letter
to boys follows:
My Dear Mr.. -:
Are you going to be one Of the Head
less Army? It's In the majority and
spends its time taking directions and
daily pittance from the Leading and
ruling minority whose heads. fixed on
their own shoulders, do the thinking
and planning that carry the world
along. The majority draw pay. for. the
work they can get out OF their muscles
and can hope for no great change In the
future: the minority use their physical
capacity as . supplement- to their mental
capacity and expect all things Of their
futures. The dividing line u training.
another name for education. In youth,
now. you decide how you will be CLASH
fled later on. This letter il written to
remind you that 1t Is up to you now to
decided Cor which group this year will
help fit you and to point to the open
doors Of the high school.
You want to earn something at once.
Let's measure, II possible. the dollars
and cents value OF going to school. In
the United States as a whole, taking
conditions by and large. the uneducated
man can not hope for more than $50
day for 800 working days, or $3.50 a year.
Of 40 working years. Total income,
SIS. 900. Now consider the trained (edu-
cated) man. What is his average SAL
airy? Beginning with the president of
the United States and taking into ac-
count the presidents. of companies.
banks. universities, and institutions of
all sorts, theis lesser officials, lawyers,
doctors. the majority Of merchants. en-
gineers. ministers, real estate and in
surance men. educated farmers. master
artisans, and teachers we shall find
that $1,000 a year is q low estimate for
the average income Of the educated
man. 1t is u1deniably true that the
educated man wears out more slowly
and lives longer as well as more COM
fortably than the Ineducated, but. for
the sake of argument, we'll allow him,
too. 40-year period of activity. Total
income, $40, 900; difference in his favor,
so, 900. The average difference in edu-
cation IL less than 1900 days. But call
ing it 200. the average return during a
lifetime for each day in school is 80
Ten dollars a day. Can you beat it? If
SO. would like to be shown how. For
Nevada. the figures are different, Of
course, but the relation between the
two groups is about the same.
You can doubtless think Of exceptions
in your own community. but how do they
compare in numbers with those who
sidewalks and benches Of Main stree?
The man who breaks from the ranks Of
the Headiess Army without an educa-
ton IL the shining exception. For
every one such there are several be-
low the average. We can't count on
being among the fortunate exceptions.
The chances are about three to one
against any such superstition.
One more cor sheraton that may be
news to you. Lacking figures for Ne
vada. we'll take those of the neighbor-
ing state of California. The states in
crease of population for the decade
ending in 1910 was COL per cent. For
the same period high school enrolment
increased from 1919 to S9,113, or 221.
per cent. High school attendance is
beating population 221.1 to COL; in other
words. it is increasing 81 times as fast.
That means at least two things. First,
the high school has what you as a boy
need; second, competition. already
fierce. is being intensified. There are
four educated boys now after every
Job sought by one educated boy ten
years ago. You can see at once where
that puts the boy without at least a
high school training.
To the question, What shall do this
WINTER" the c.nswer is now very plain,
Is it not?
supposing you do give up Job paying
something each week. 1t is surrender
ing little now for much in the future,
giving up two or three dollars a day
now for a return of ten dollars a day
postponed while. 1t is not hard to de-
eide which IL the better end Of that
bargain.
Where should you go to school?
If you leave Lovelock, you cause q
double economic loss; first, to the COM
munity. because its money is expended
Tor fewer individuals; second, to your
self. because Of the greater cost Of
your maintenance. Furthermore, you go
into new surroundings which may. not
be agreeable and which certainly re-
Quire readjustment on your part. and
you have to form new associations: and
friendships. You break OF home ties
that might be productive Of congenial
and profitable employment at home
after the completion Of your high school
course.
BY attending in Lovelock, you avoid
these disadvantages and enjoy adj
vantages which you know as we'll as /.
Our course Is adapted to meet as many
needs as possible. With numbers
We can greatly extend our courses Of
studies So as finally to meet the educa-
tional need Of every boy and girl in the
community. AS you help. yourself by
attending. you will help many others
in the securing Of what they, too, need
for success.
Please write to me about these things,
them. I shall be glad to see you either