Evening journal., 1918-09-16
Want CHILDREN
KEPT IN SCHOOL
Mrs. Charles R. Mile r
Makes Appeal to Parents
of State
LOOK TO FUTURE
OF DEMOCRACY

Mrs. Agisall NJ. w. Miller, wife Of
Former Governor Charles r. Miller,
and ohsirmsn Of the women's Commit
tee OF the state Council OF Defense, in
an appeal to parents. today asks them
10 cooperate In sending their children
to school, in compliance with President
Wilson's request. In her letter, Mrs.
Miller says:
'The Woman's Committee OF the
State Council 4 Defense Is urging all
parents in the city and state to make
special effort to keep children IN school
this year. The reasons for making spe-
cial effort. and sacrifice II necessary, to
insure the education OF the children
are vitally connected with the winning
OF the war and the future safety Of
democracy in this country and in the
world. No greater stimulus should be
necessary TO make both parents and
citizens at large strain every effort In
this respect than the realization OF
Americas place In the world today and
tomorrow.
president Wilson has urged Federal
departments 10 bring home TO individ-
ual families both their responsibility
and their opportunity in this matter.
The number OF illlterates among the
drafted men all over the country has
awakened the nation 10 the gravity Of
educational shortcomings In the coun-
try. Every uneducated soldiers means
that much less intelligence in outwit-
ting the Hun. Every uneduoated citi-
zen means so much less Intelligent sup
port Of the soldier at the front and
harder work for the rest Of the coun-
try.
The War Department has opened
schools in an the contonments where
strong men with fingers hardened
by toll are laboriously writing out
! the letters or the alphabet and awk-
wardly learning 10 spell and read. Many
Of them are the finest American stock
who have missed the opportunity that
we so carelessly take for granted when
we say America is the land Of equal
chances for the rich and the poor.
These men are beginning to realize that
they were cheated out OF their birth
right as American citizens. Their flrst
letters home have shown a surprising
keenness Of interest in the education OF
their own children and their younger
brothers and sisters. and they have put
the blame for their present lack OF
training exactly where Il belongs. The
fact that they are preparing to give
their lives for the continuance OF
Americas freedom and equality. gives
peculiar sharpness to the. condemna-
tion which they express for the par
ents and governments and educational
authorities who have failed in their
duty.
oThe Women's Committee OF The
State Council Of Defense took a careful
census OF children OF school age In VIII
mington last year. The census returns
reveal the fact that hundreds OF VIII
mington children between the. ages Of
six and fourteen were not In school. As
all Of these children were under the
working age they were not occupied IN
anything, either industrial or educa-
tional. such conditions cannot be al
lowed TO continue or the city, and the
nation too. Will suffer in consequence.
Most OF the reasons for keeping these
children out OF school were triilins,
and the child was missing the oppor-
tunity TO make himself into a good
citizen on account Of a neglect on the
part OF both the parents and the citi-
Zsns.
During the past summer children OF
fourteen and over have been very gen
orally employed because Of the need
for work and also Of the high wages
paid even 10 such young workers. The
temptation TO the child TO remain out
OF school will be great. Parents are
therefore asked to act wisely and firmly
in this situation. They will win not
only the future gratitude OF the child
but the gratitude Of the nation II these
children are sent back TO school to pre-
pare themselves TO make real contribu-
tiOns TO the country's work instead OF
spending their young strength and
wasting their best years for learning,
for the sake Of a few dollars at the
present time. For this particular group
Of children, who are almost young men
and young women, education is espec-
tally necessary and every government
department which has TO do with the
war and the future Of lives in this
country. is calling urgently for the re-
sponse Of both parents and children TO
the need Of trained men and women"