Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-01-13
People Not Ready for "compuIsion."

nifty that is needed. More. teachers,
larger salaries so as to secure and keep
the best teachers, more convenient and
more comfortable schoolhouses ana
better equipment for teaching purposes
and longer school terms-yes, more
money to help the country schools and
less extravaganza in our colleges
that's what we need. The article fol-
lows: ~"
with the opening Of the schools, the
subject so engrossing to every man and
woman interested in educating the
white race becomes more and more
emphatic and each one who has an idea
for the betterment of our children's fu-
ture should use 1t toward this end.
For some time have wished we
could find a name less antagonistic
than compulsory think very often
a name carries with 1t either populari-
ty or the reverse and we all know IT Is
strong trait within us to dislike be-
ing compelled, being made to do the
very thing we would probably like to
do IL some other way were used than
compulsory I attended every meeting
Of the Conference for the Common
Good that I was able to accomplish. l
think it was a grand rally Of fine men
and women and the very meeting itself
a most important event. Some have
said, Nothing was done to show how
the evils Of the times can be remedied.
The pioneers in everything never put
full blown flowers forth, never are CIV
en- credit for the fruit Of their work.
But the conference was needed anu
what Is needed thoughtful humanitari-
ans work out, They lay the founda-
ton, mind acts with mind, the wave Is
started inshore-and II each one rides
1t wisely, they land somewhere, some
how, on solid ground. Cooperation IL
the power that will accomplish educat-
ing the white children, as 1t does In
everything, and this is what that con-
ference did in organizing the earnest
workers Of the state for developing tne
better plan to bring about universal
education of the whites. 1 have lived
in the country, have mingled with the
poorest people, and think / can see
the rock against which they bruise
their own feelings. I sympathize with
them because understand them better
than many Of the men and women who
are so actively, so enthusiastically
working for compulsory education.
Sometimes the greater the enthusi- :
asm the greater the mistakes. What
applies to factory and to mill children,
all congregated together, does not ap-
ply to segregated homes, In fact is sim
ply impossible. A law that can not be
enforced is worse than not having IL.
A law that in the eyes Of many OF the
mothers seems harsh and inhuman will
never work out this important end we
are striving after. Now I know OF m
personal knowledge that there are chill
dren in the remote country who can
never comply with the compulsory bill,
whose parents are just as anxious lor
the advancement Of their child as the
rich man is for his; but 1t Is simply a
physical impossibility to do one cent
more than keep the wolf from the
door It all sounds beautiful In the as
sembly halls, in the newspapers, from
the platform-'compulsory education
compulsory education!'-but in some
homes it can not be done under the bill
as it now reads. We can cage the BIRD
but we can not make him sing.
80 let the thinking men and women
work out the problem Of supplying
books, decent clothes, strong shoes 70
walk to the schools in and the 'compul-
sorry part Of this bill will soon be un-
necessary. In one Of the states the
books are supplied. II the state Is the
good parent 1t must not say to the
children, You shall do thus and So
without knowing that the child can
carry out the command. If a parent
lays down a law that can not In reason
be obeyed, why that parent only arouses
rebellious feeling, awakens unfortunate
friction between mother and child. The
state is more obligated to look out for
her unfortunate children than for her
prosperous ones.
"It has occurred to me that II the
women Of each neighborhood, working
for the betterment Of humanity, unit
ed their efforts and supplied proper
clothes for even one girl, and the state
supplied the books, then we might
achieve state wide education without
friction. The missionary societies ana
our federation Of clubs supply the
wherewithal for education, scnoiar-
ships are offered, money Is sent across
the ocean for the heather Chinese ana
here, right in each state, our Doys ana
girls are ordered to attend schooi as.
have nothing to wear. some or them.
Several of the speakers at the confer
ence touched upon the social element
in rural schools. This is absolutely
necessary If we wish to educate the
country child. For some years l nave
been interested in sending literature 10
country schools and am more than re-
maid by the influence my books ana
magazines have had, as indicated py
letters to me from teacher and pupils;
"If the women right in this city real
lied the amount Of pleasure and SUI
shine magazines carry into remote
homes they would select one school,
and make that their objective point Tor
ali castaway literature. Once begun 1t
becomes a great pleasure as well as
duty"
The Institution for the Deaf, the Dumb
and the Blind.
am informed that this institution
was founded in 1S49 by N. 2. Walker,
the father Of the present superinten-
dent and for many, many years the
present Superintendent, assisted by
good wife with all her loving aid and
encourag ement, has devoted all mis-
time and all his energies to this scnooi.
DR.. and Mrs. Walker have now potn
grown to an age where they need some
rest and care, and / think the devotlon
which they have shown to their STATE
through their love for these little blind,
deaf and dumb children, entities them
to the lasting gratitude Of every man
and woman in South Carolina. Ihls
institution is wonderful. I saw things
there at the commencement exercises
last year which / would not nave De-
lieyed possible II / had been told OF
them without seeing them Tor myseu.
To say that the training given these
children is wonderful does not express
it. | do not know of any language that
can express it, and too much can not
be done by the state for the institution.
To be appreciated the work which the
school is doing must be seen.
recommend that you make an ap.
propriation to have nice cottage oulit
on the grounds Of this institution, and
that it be set apart as nome for Pres
ident and Mrs. Walker during the re-
mainder Of their lives, and that DR..
Walker be elected president emeritus,
with a sufficient salary to give him ana
his good wife those things which are
necessary to make them comfortable
and happy for the remainder OF their
declining years. This would be trib-
ute which l am satisfied every ore OF
your constituents would applaud, and
which would show to the world that
there is yet some appreciation OF those
who are willing to give their lives Tor
the uplift Of humanity.
The South Carolina University.
You gentlemen remember my fight
against one Mitchell, who was for
awhile the so-called president Of the
South Carolina University, and also the
fight that have been making for years
o.. l. mar, fn ha mt Qf the haqn or