The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-03-10
SCHOOL SITUATION.


without much effort and cost no sac
Rice, are after all. seldom OF any rea
Aenefit to us. Communities are lik'
the average man. They are simply
an aggregation of men. What they
net in improvements, in progress, II
a higher degree of civilization will cost
something.
Take the matter of temperance and
law enforcement in Maury county az
an example. Only comparatively
Few of our citizens know how much
This fight to better conditions has cost.
But It cost a great deal, the burden,
rs is generally the case In such az
fairs, falling upon a comparatively
few. In the many, many campaigns
mat have been fought in the county
Tor better conditions practically the
same individuals have always been
me contributors to the necessary cam
paign funds. A few, comparatively
speaking, have been called upon to
make the sacrifices, to bear the bur-
dan of the conflict Because great
majority have not done these things
they should not labor under the de-
fusion that real progress comes with
Out cost and effort. This reference Is
made merely to prove the truth Of our
opening statement.
Now system of splendid public
schools, where the boy or girl, no
matter what his or her environment
In life, no matter how poor the pa
rents may be, may obtain at the pub
aic cost, an education that fits one for
the battle of life, is about the best
contribution that the state, that or
ganized society can make, to the great
cause Of civilization. 1t should be the
aim and purpose of this county, as one
4Of the greatest, the richest and the
most blessed of all the communities
OF the United States, to have such an
institution But none should be de-
iGeiyed with the idea that this splen-
did condition may be achieved with
ont cost.
There never was any greater fall
lacy than the suggestion that our pub
He schools are free schools" Moth.
ing is free in this world that is really
worth having. II our schools were
''free" they would not be worth at
landing. They are worthy just about
In proportion as we are willing to pay
Tor them. Now do we want the best,
~fhe very best possible opportunities
In Maury county for our boys and
girls? Do we really expect to give
them an equal chance in the race of
Iife with the boys and girls OF any
.sother community upon the footstool
nj Almighty God? Are we solemnly
In earnest when we applaud the state
ment that the greatest asset of the
county is not its thousand blue grass
hills, covered with cattle and sheep
and swine, not its thousands of acres
sef waving grain ripe for the harvest,
but its boys and girls, the sovereigns
and the builders of the future en-
pfre? We are not in earnest unless
we are willing to prove our good faith
by making some sacrifice.
Good schools cost money. 1t is a
wonder, almost mystery to The
Herald, that Maury county has been
able to make such magnificent prog.
Tess In its public schools these past
eight or nine years without a greater
than has been made.
Lfuch as we have done we are yet far,
very far from the proper goal of our
ambition. Our school buildings in the
taking them as whole, are i,
very far from being what they should
be. There are not half dozen ele-,
school buildings in Maury ,
county that are properly constructed
and are equal to the demands that are ,
made upon them. Now it costs money
to build school houses, but we can ,
fever do our duty by the children 1
until we do build them. That fact
must be recognized. We are album
dainty able as people to build them.
Whether or not we do plain, simple
Justice by our greatest asset" de-
ponds wholly and solely upon our VIII
Iingness to prove our faith by our
money.
Then there is our county high
school. The Herald INDUCES in no
mere fiattery of local institution
when It says that in point Of equip
ment, in building and in faculty, in
work accomplished and discipline en-
forced, the high school OF Maury coun-
u, is equal to the best-high school in
fha sfatn II maralv etatea what n