Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1915-01-08

further education, hen they
have just reached The critical
point IN their live when they
are beginning to ialize the
value of an education! 1t is at
this point that they eel as tho
they ought to becc teachers
and, sadly to say, see of them
actually do take up this work.
Their intentions are good but
their results bad for they not
only hinder their own highest de
velUpement but also that of our
State. Kentucky will never
raise her standard Of education
until she has bettyr qualified
teachers.
But there are tn sc in our
midst who will ,Iy Why
should we have Hi II School in
our city, when we have two fine
private schools?" Tue indeed,
but what is to become of those
land they are in the majority
who cannot afford to pay their
way through our two private
schools? Can we dehar them an
education, which is rightly due
them?
We owe much praise to our
two private schools but | regret
to say that they have been the
means of keeping back the estab
lishment of a high School, for
the people of this towa have re.
Trained from enrolling students
in the graded school, owing to
the condition of the building and
thus these schools are carrying
Oh the work which should be
done in the public school. If we
had High School then our pri-
vate schools could affordto teach
Preparatory, Normal and College
courses which would send out
I'D better trained teachers, (2)
students could prepare for col
lege at home and (5) students
could obtain a standard college
education, whereas now many of
our energetic students have to
spend all or most of their means
for the equivalent of a 1 year
High School education, thereby
spending the money which
otght to have been used to put
them through college. Does not
this fact alone deserve our most
worthy consideration?
A new High School building
would be not only u means of in.
creasing educational progress in
our town but also in our whole ,
couaty, for it being a County and
City High School would open its
doors Of opportunity to every boy
and girl in Knox County so that
it would be an invalua bic means
of awakening the citizens of our
county to the dawn of better con-
ditions. 1t would mean less ex.
pense to the country boy or girl
who wishes a High School educa-
ton, for it will mean free tuition,
In a few years the State will re-
quire completion of a High
School course as a qualification
of county teacher, ST. does 1t
not behoove us, as citizens that
We shalluse our influence for the
erection of such a High School
building that will meet the de-
mands of the time.
Our city Board OF Education is
eoiug everything in its power for
the esta blishment or such
building. Already be prints
have been submitted to them
but they must have / ore than
blue prints; they mus have the
hearty cooperation and loyal
support of every citizen in this
city and this county.
Persons have EXPIRE ed their
Willingness to give do ,tions for
the proposed school building but
at this time such is not SO urgent,
what we wish now lie not dona'
tions but appropriations, and We
who are interested in this matter
of education, We urge sou to use
your influence that it sill create
such popular feeling nong the
citizens Of onr county That pub
lie opinion, the greatest power
of the people, will answer the
cry and meet the demands of the