The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-07-23
Lancaster, Ky, July q. 1914.

The number of illiterates in Kentucky
as shown by the recent census, is as
founding as well as surprising. and a
herculean effort is going to be made to
reduce the percentage to greatextent
during the coming school Year.
One great cause of the vast number
of illiterates in our state is the failure
of parents to observe the school laws,
especially the truant law, and stricter
observance of this law is going to be
required in future Every child Of
school age in Garrard county, both black
and white. is going to be in school dur
ing the coming term, or the authorities
are going to know the reason why.
Parents who continue to disregard this
law are going to be taken strictly to
task. and some stiff punishment is 60
ing to be handed out to those who are
found guilty of its infringement.
A vast amount of money Is being eX-
pended in the state of Kentucky an
nualv to further the cause of education,
the per capita tax is larger this year
than ever before, and there is not a
child within the commonwealth but
what should be given the advantage of
an education And if aschild fails of
this advantage, it is the fault of the
parent. The tuition is without cost,
and. in cases where it is shown con-
ciuslvelv that the parents are unable
to furnish books, they will be furnished.
Thus it leaves but the matter of cloth
ing and food to be provided by the par
ents. and we do not believe there is a
family in Garrard county, black or
white. but that can provide these ne
cessities for their children, and if there
are. we are confident if they will let it
be known, then these will be provided
for them.
The entire matter sifted to the bot
tom. when a child is out of school,
places the entire responsibility upon
the parents, and that responsibility is
indeed very grave one, much graver
than you may think, as you will realize
if once the school authorities get you
in their clutches.
In future the teacher will report to
her district Chairman the names of all
children who are absent, the trustee
will in turn report to the County Sup
erintendent. and that officer will if up
on investigation, she finds the parents
are responsible for the delinquency,
report the matter to the county Judge,
who will impose a fine for the offense.
and in the event the child is not placed
in school and kept there, infiict such
punishment as will deter the parent
from ever again disregarding the truant
laws. Going to school, does not NEAR
sending the child to school one day anc
keeping him at home a week. it means
going as regularly as health and cir.
cUmstances will permit. The fact that
you need Johnnie at home" is no ex
o. cuse, Kentucky needs Johnnie at schoo
much worse than you need him at home
and she proposes TO see that he is kept
there.
This is warning, YOU may not be-
heve or heed it, but if you do not, You
viii suffer the consequences. School:
begin the first Monday in August. See
that the children are properly prepar
ed. provided with what they need, anl
start them in the hrst day and keeJ
them there every day that it is possib e
Let US do away with this alarming stat,
of iliteracy in Kentucky. Every Chi;
is entitled to an education, give hin
the benefit Of the opportunities which
are justly his. without the Intervention
of the law. DO not force the law t,
make you render to your children tn,
duties which are theirs by right.