Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-06-01
II The War Is Anything Bat A Joke
All Patriots Will Have To Make
Liberty And Labor" The
Nation's Slogan And Let
Education Care For
Itself.

Nation's Slogan And Let
Education Care For
Itself.
To The EDITOR Il note in your issue of
May 18th letter by Mr.. James Kirkpatrick
in reply to one from me on May 4th. The
letter takes me back to long years ago,
when was discussing with Superinten-
dent Stephens in the Denton Journal"
and with Commissioner P. P. Claxton else
where. In the interim, who do you think
have been the chief defenders of the pub
lie schoolsi The answer is the Socialists.
The school men who have started up dis
cussions with me in the past have often
been rewarded with higher office, and per-
haps Mr.. kirkpatrick will come in for that
honor. il the public school system holds its
own long enough. Insomuch as | have
answered all Mr.. Kirkpatrick's arguments
thousands of times over and insomuch as
things are coming right my way at present,
will lay out a few facts merely in reply
to him.
Mr.. X. alludes to public schools making
better earners and farmers. In the Balti-
more American of May 18th appeared
report of the condemnation of schools as
delivered the day before by Mrs. Giles
Scott Raster, lady of high standing in
Washington. Part Of the large heading
reads; Mothers Congress President Hits
at Schools. Not Trained as Farmers. Chill
dren Leave System Not Properly Equipped
to Support Themselves" So there we have
the decided REPUTATION of the claim that
schools make for efficient workers in cities
and on farms.
Regarding the boasts that schools hand
out better manhood and womanhood
physically. another largely headed article
appeared in the American of May 10Th,
with this as part Boys and Girls Below
Standard. Alarming Number Of Physical
Detectives in Schools. An Inspection by
Experts" In city and country alike the
public schools are imbeciling the race.
Long years ago Edward Box proved that
$4,000 children were directly killed yearly
by the schools and 100000 more injured
for life. Since that time matters are ten
times worse. 1t has been perfect agony
to me to see the way even the rural schools
imbecile the children. As breeders of dis
ease. they are regular pest-houses, and
school superintendents are impervious to
the most commonsense appointments
they will not ventilate.
The suspension of the compulsory school
law has been recommended by Secretary
Baker and many others in authority. In
fact, Governor Harrington and Superinten-
dent Stephens got together about April 7th
and announced that the suspension would
be called for in this State. What pre-
vented III The club women. They know
all about what the farmers ought to have
and the Governor was gallant enough to
pass the thing along for the Legislature to
decide. The Baltimore Evening Sun Of
May 18th, abiding to the past and pre-
sent situation. said:
Some weeks ago there we're indications
that strenuous fight would be made to
prevent the passage Of any bill authoriz-
ing the Governor to suspend or modify the
School Attendance, the WOmans Eight
Hour and the Child Labor Laws. 1t may
be that this fight will be made. but the
fact that the enactment of such legisla-
ton has been advised by the Secretary of
War IS expected to 60 long way toward
taking the life out of any opposition that
may arise to such measure"
The Department of Agriculture wrote me,
in part
Doubtless. the question Of relaxing the
stringency of laws regarding compulsory
education will come up more emphatically
il the economic pressure of food scarcity
should increase during the season.
Since that was written the pressure"
has increased day by day. All this shows
that those in authority are giving the sub
ject of work the consideration it demands,
and that the time is nearing in which
Liberty and Labor" will have to become
the recognized slogan of the nation.
My letters to Congressman. Senators, De-
partment Heads and Cabinet Officers have
been numerous and emphatic on the ques-
tion Of education and labor and have met
with very considerable recognition, con-
sidering their iconoclastic demands. You
can perhaps remember. Mr.. Editor that in
the long ago | said that If there was not
revolt against the educational system. war
or revolution would bring 1t. So, where
are we today Here is sample of one of
my open letters to Secretary Baker. the
same being sent also to The National
Council of Defense
Dear Sir With all the power of which
you are capable you ought to hold the
country down TO suspension Of the school
attendance and child labor laws, not only
that the children may in some measure
be gradually introduced to DEMONSTRATING
work in the present. but that they may
become prepared for the various labors in
cities and on farms that are to be most
desperately needed in the future. The two
above laws have run their limit in demon
alizine the people. both for work and mill
tary duty.
THE two leading opponents to the sus-
pension Of the above laws have been the
club women and the socialists. The former
have spent whole weeks sailing around
in their automobiles interruptine practi-
cally disposed men with their effeminate
arguments the latter. far more jealous
than the self-interested educators them
selves, have never failed to avail Of every
opportunity to attempt through the press
the thwarting of every patriotic effort along