The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-23
Government and Educators Generally
Urge That School Boy and
College Man Continue
Education.
CAN SERVE BEST HERE
ksokuk Lads Are Urged by superin-
tendent AIdrlch to Remain on Job
and Fit Themselves for
Strenuous Work.

To forestall any movement among
stop school and attempt to enlist in
the army, the war department and the
department of interior have notified
VIM. Aldrich. superintendent of Keo'
kuk schools, to make every effort to
keep the boys in school.
"The United States government does
not want condition to arise in this
country such as has developed in Eng
land" declared Mr.. Aldrich. Over
there. boys who would have accomp-
Ilished more for their country by re-
maining in school stormed the recruit
ing stations, and went forth to fight
the country's battles when they would
have contributed a great deal more to
the glory Of England by continuing in
school and qualifying themselves for
the tasks which they could fill much
more satisfactorily for the country's
good"
The war department does not want
this war to be a boys war, If it can
possibly avoid it, and as long as it has
arranged the age limits Of the draft so
that it is unnecessary for the school
boys to enlist at this time, the depart
ment wants every effort made to keep
the boys in school.
Education a Vital Need.
The government particularly empha-
sizes the need of high school educa-
ton for the rising generation if this
country is to continue to keep its place
as leading nation in point of en-
Ilightenment. The government consid-
ers this as vitality necessary to the fu-
ture of the country as the war itself,
if civilization is to continue its strug-
gle for improvement.
There is no need at this time for
boys of high school age to enlist, no
matter how periodically inclined they
I may be, and the government believes
they would be carrying out their pat
riotic motives to higher and more
constructive degree if they completed
their high school education before Of
lfering themselves at this time to the
wars bondage.
If they enter the war at this time, it
is probable they would be held for a
iperiod which would take away the de-
sire to continue their education when
the war ceased, and the country would
suffer more as the result of this than
Iif they completed their schooling be-
fore they offered themselves to the
war.
i
Continue College Work, Too.
The government wishes school off,
Gals to do all in their power to urge
the boys under the CONSUMPTION age to
continue their college work also
There is no reason why they should
feel they are slackers because the old
-. ho1,, no cC11apoc have ppno To
war. They should continue their edu-
cation at least until they reach the
age which. the war department stipu-
|lates. makes them eligible to serve.
Ames college has issued prospect
lus covering I've war and education
fouestion and gives excerpts from
Iprominent educators on this vital top
lie.
President Wilson has said:
ct would, as you suggest, seriously
impair American prospects Of success
In this war if the supply Of highly
trained men were unnecessarily dimin-
ished.
"I have therefore no hesitation IN
urging colleges and technical schools
to endeavor to maintain their courses
as far as possible On the usual basis.
There will be many young men from
these institutions who will serve in the
armed forces Of the country. Those
who fall below the age Of selective
conscription and who do not enlist may
feel that by pursuing their courses
with earnestness and diligence they
are preparing themselves for valuable
service to the nation.
IT would particularly urge upon the
young people who are leaving our high
schools that as many Of them as can
do 40 avail themselves this year Of the
opportunities offered by the colleges
and technical schools, to the end that
the country may not lack an adequate
supply of trained men and women
President Pearson Of Ames says:
at is a question whether a young
man is serving the greater need by
disseminating educational work so as
to participate in an emergency service
or by continuing his educational train
ling along some vital line in order to
enable him to do larger and better
service at later date