The Marshall republican., 1914-01-02

time when this Is accomplished, how
ever, does not appear to DO near ct
hand.
Great Decrease In I~iIiteraey.
Much improvement as the result Of
the more general education that has
been provided is noticeable In Great
Britain. The decrease Of iIliteracy
shows what broadening the school
system and establishing compulsory
school attendance have brocsnt about.
Forty years ago. Of every 1000 men
married in England and Wales 225
signed the marriage register with
their mark, because they could not
write their names; last year only II.
The proportion Of women who signed
with q mark decreased during the
same period from 312 TO 20. In Ire.
land the proportion Of men thus
shown to be illiterate decreased from
i04 TO so and OF the women from 517
to &c; in Scotland. men from ia to 16
and Of women from 222 TO Is.
Scotch lsborers Keen for Education.
Scotland, which furnishes wisdom to
London, as ireland furnishes Il wit,
has ever lead In tho general dissent.
nation OF education among its people.
Even tho agricultural laborers in the
Scotch constituency whom I represent.
ed" said a distinguished member OF
parliament, were keen for education
They we're men whose wages in rent
and money and what they got other.
wise amounted 10 not moro than $3.50
a week. They were great, burly.
strong fellows, well educated. and with
wives as keen as they were: the cot.
tages were without n speck OF dirt and
with IN abundance OF books. They
read and they thought. There was tho
breaking down OF this class barrier
through education. and father and son
feeling they had much the same
chance. II was a matter OF accident
or choice whether n went 10 n farm
or to a learned profession: tho learned
ono was one who could manage a farm
II the pinch camo and the farmer
could adorn tho learned profession;
both we're keen democrats. but In moth
ing so democratic NJ this. they meant
to have proper education for thor
children" The democracy extended 10
student life also. II may be assumed.
from the story told OF Doctor Words
worth, the author OF the Greek gram.
mar and the originator OF that Inter.
esting and dlverting educational spec.
taclo. the oxford-C Cambridge cricket
match. Coming from England 10 Scot
land to take the hcadship OF n college
In Glenalmond, no was struck by the
absence OF awe" In Scottish boys: or
even OF ordinary respect for the
schoolmasters. One Scotch lad came
up 10 him after q lesson and said.
Can you tell me where ! can get some
good worms? l am going out nsh.
Ing"
Public Schools Calming, Private Losing.
A notable sign OF educational change
In the increase In tho attendance upon
the council or state (public) schools
In Great Britain as compared with the
attendance upon tho voluntary or pri.
vato schools. Five years ago 2.Si3.767
children were in attendance upon the
council schools; this year. s~,213.s9o
an increase OF 400.i42. The attend.
ance upon tho voluntary schools had
decreased 347.343 during tho same
period. falling on from 2.i79.S2A 70
2,i32.4S1.
Four principles are involved in ,hc
states support OF the council schools,
IA outlined In tho elementary school
program of tho Liberal party: Full
and complete popular control and no
religious test for teachers; every pa
rent to have opportunity to send his
child to n council school-elther the
school In 10 be taken 20 the child or
the child to the school; where demon
national teaching ia permitted none OF
the cost is to be paid by taxation: a
recognition OF the value Of Bible teach
ing. Around tbese principles much
contention RACES In the political
world.
Universal Education tho Aim.
The new education In Great Britain
is slowly moving to the provision OF
the equality OF training. (which Is the
only basis of a true democrncy-which
forbids the conception ~ the "ele'
mentary" school for tho mass. the sec
ondary" school for the selected
classes. and the universities for the
few destined by inheritance or envir
onment TO be the leaders" OF the PEG,
pie. The new education 10 universal
education Of all for the service Of all,
II the prophets OF the new educa'
tion speak the truth. II will make a
Greater Britain instead of n Little
England. Educational progress IL
slow. however, In this land. New edu.
~cational ideas find acceptance only
when they become old But No finer
material for educational experiment.
exists. In itomorrow's worla Il may %
n Briton from the council schools OF
today, who yesterday would have been
denied opportunity Of living his life,
who shall call the nations to yet high
err things. Newboit's tribute to the
handful OF school graduates Of yester.