The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-09-20
War Should
Not Interfere With
Higher Edacation

Higher Education
In mis- letter to the Secretary of til
interior, approving the campaign |
the Bureau of Education for the su,
port OF the schools and the maint
nance of attendance upon them din
ing the war, President Wilson saws
That, in so far as the draft law wi
: permit, there should be no falling a
In attendance in the elementar
schools, high schools or colleges.
a matter of the very greatest impo,
lance, affecting both our strength 4
war and our National welfare an
efficiency when the war is OVER IT
then urges, that the people suppor
generously their schools of all grade
ana adapt them as wisely as possibl,
to the new conditions, ito the an,
that no boy or girl shall have less on
lportunity for education because of III,
war and that the Nation may h
strengthened as it can only hi
through the right education Of all #.
people"
For no part of our people is this
more important than for those who
I'VE IN villages, small towns and in
the open country, mostly farmers
Whatever may have been true in
former days, it has now come about
that for success in their work and for
=! good living on the farm and in the
rarm home, farmers, and their wives
need a broader, more comprehensive
and more thorough education than do
men and women engaged in any other
occupation and living under anv 9th.
er conditions. They need not only
the general information and training
Tor life and citizenship which thew
should have in common with all men
and women, but they need also train.
ing IN science and knowledge of
PHYSICS and chemistry, of soils and
fertilizers, of plants and animals and
their diseases and how to protect
against them, of the cultivation and
harvesting Of crops, of marketing, OF
balanced rations for domestic ami.
mails, of machinery and its use and
care, OF the simple forms Of engineer.
ing and architecture, of bookkeepinp
ana banking, Of the sanitation Of the
nome, the care Of children, and manv
otner things on which their success
and their health and happiness de-
pend, full round of knowledge. such
as is needed for success in no other
occupation. Also the farmer and the
farmers wife must know not only the !,
facts Of these, but the un.
DERIVING principles as well, to enable
them to direct their work intelligent
" and adjust themselves to constant
y changing conditions.
Such knowledge and training can.
lot be given effectively in the elemen.
AIRY schools alone. Much of it can
'e given only in high schools and
colleges, and to boys and girls of high
'chool and college age.
The place which farmers hold in
ne affairs of the Nation and the
world and the value of their work
lave been revealed by the war. The
of these will not be less
When the war is over. 1t is of the
Utmost Importance that they be able
0 fill their places and do their work
and we'll.
That they may be prepared for this.
he schools for the farmers children
n small towns and villages and in
ne open country should be better
Imported and constantly improved
nd no boy or girl should be kept out
4 the elementary school or high
chool when attendance is possible.
II SO far as the draft laws and the
bsolute necessities of the home will
ermit, every country boy and every
ountry girl, who are prepared for it,
hould go to college, university, or
ormal school.
There are before us as a people now
lst two tasks of supreme impor-
ance; To win the war for freedom
nd democracy and, let us hope. for
peace, and to fit ourselves
nd our children for life and citizen.
nip in the new world which the war
bringing in. Both of these tasks
lust be performed with singleness of
lrpose and whole.hearted devotion
the public welfare; and no sacri-
,e, however great, must be allowed
stand in the way of either
/ feel sure the farmers of the Ma.