The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1915-07-02


Yes. these old settlers caught the
ideals suggested by the great Ordin-
ance, for in their first constitution
they also said:
ut shall be the duty of the
general assembly as soon as cir
cumstances will permit, to provide
by law for a general system of
education, ascending In a regular
graduation from township schools
to a state university, wherein
tuition shall be gratis, and equal
1y open to ALL"
Thus 1t is seen that those who gave
us the state We love, set for those fol-
lowing them an example which the
citizenship Of Indiana has always
striven to emulate. Her schools are in
truth the source of her greatest
strength. They develop her moral
fibre, as we'll as train the mind, and
without moral fibre the state is with
out enduring foundation. Across the
Threshold of the free school all pu-
pills pass upon a level. The public
school is a levler, but it levels up and
not down 1t is a sort of a melting
pot, by means of which the best there
is in a pupil is gotten out of him and
under conditions whereby all those
sharing the melting process will de-
rive advantages not otherwise pos
sible for them to get.
The boy and girl who have not at
tended the common schools are handl-
capped; for they will never know how
to interpret accurately that ever pres
ent and constantly assertfve thing we
call the life of the common people.
The boy who touches elbows with
HIS companions in the common schools
will in the end, in the majority of in
stances, have the clearest comprehen-
sion OF these problems. because he is
in touch with the life of the common
people. Such a youth, upon attaining
the stature of manhood, will have a
better understanding Of the peoples
needs.
Indiana has long been widely re-
puted for her public school system
and the high efficiency of her schools.
They are constantly enriching society
with well equipped citizenship. They
have reduced the states illiteracy un-
til It now represents but six-tenths of
one per cent. of those ranging be-
tween the ages Of ten and twenty
years. Our schools are conducted on
the theory that our state is secure
Just in the degree she rests on a pa
triotic and intelligent democracy
Educational Legislation.
Any one who will take the pains to
make the examination, will discover
the state has shown in recent years a
progressive spirit and materially
strengthened her school system, by
providing uniform text books; by re
quiring medical inspection and sani
tary school buildings and Fairgrounds;
by making fire drills compulsory; by
enacting a teachers minimum wage
law; by passing a compulsory educa
tional law; by the erection of the Of
-
creating consolidated schools, central
ly located, with necessary equipment
good teachers and course better
planned to meet the needs of pupils:
by increasing the tax rate for the
three state educational institutions
Indiana university, Purdue university
and the State Normal school; thereb.
enabling them to do with greater eth
cheney the work they are designed Il
accomplish, without having to prac
tice the questionable tactics OF th'
professional lobbyist; and finally AM
more recently by placing upon he
statute books vocational education
al law.
This latter law marks an epoch II
popular education. It is a master
piece Of legislation. One Of the great
est tragedies of this nation-and In
diana has had her part IN it-ha
been the turning of boys and girls on
Of school, without proper qualifica
ton by the vast majority Of them t
do their life work. Teachers an
schools have taught them nothing @
the plano and the mill; nothing of tn
forge and the factory.
In her vocational legislation, In
diana has set about to make repars
tion. as far as she can, for her neglec
q Of her youth in the past. The trut
. is now pressing upon her, as it neve
q has before, that not more than fift
o per cent. of her pupils complete tn
4, work Of the grades: that only a sma
. per cent completes the high schot
. course: and that very small part {
8 high school graduates ever receive
college course The multitude ha
q been permitted to take up the threa
= Of life without having a we'll fixe
viewpoint of life. And the fault ha
been with the state.
g Under this law the elements OF agr
j, curture, mechanics and domest
science will be taught In the distri,
school. And il is fair to assume thu
. hereafter keener interest will
|, felt in those subjects. We are looking
things differently from what We 70
: merlly did. We now know that d
:, nestle science serves society to
better Durposa than does either III