Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-09
MARCH 9. 1915
OUR PRACTICAL SCHOOL.

For mortal to have more of the
good things Of life, the only pracuca
way is to produce more. There is No
logical way for those of low produc'
tive capacity to engage the powers
that be to go out and get for them q
perennial bounty to make up for theiI
deficit One must produce what one
would enjoy.
The nearest thing in human govern
mont to an equal distribution of this
worlds goods is an equal opportunity
to learn how to produce. Most demo-
cratic peoples understand that fact
rs is shown by their attitude toward
the public school Under peace con-
ditions the largest item in the eX-
pensc budget of Great Britain, France
and the United states is that for pop
ular education.
Popular education is the best known
method of giving equal opportunity
TO AL so long is all have equal OPP
portunity to get the schooling, and 50
long as the schooling actually teaches
the pupils to produce the things they
most enjoy. In these two vital mat
tors the present American school sys-
TEN leaves something to be desired.
The state offers to everybody edu-
cation at small expense from six years
Of age to twenty-one or more. But
not everybody has the means to con-
tinue study after he reaches the pro-
ducing age Of fourteen or fifteen
years. At this point those with the
most money have the greatest Oppor-
tunity
Furthermore, the education offered
by the state does not always link up
promptly and well with production.
It is statistical fact that compare
lively few pupils of t he primary
grades are graduated from the high
school and college; and it is proverb
that the college graduate-the liberal
arts graduate and no more-must
starve awhile between college and
self-support.
In New Mexico we have one school
that gives. along with the regular
college work, opportunity for the
student girl or boy to learn some
trade. some profession, some calling
by which a good position or paying
trade or occupation, if we may SO
term it, may be had at graduation.
That is the New Mexico College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Also, and let it be said with en-
phasis, that is the one institution of
higher learning in the state that has
not been so provided for in the budget
that it can do its work adequately.
1t is the most democratic of all the
institutions of the state. There nearly
any boy can work his way through
the school or at least get enough to
supplement what he is able to make
during tho summer months. The fact
that he is working his way to an edu-
cation in no way detracts from his
social standing.
But that school, the only school
recognized by the federal government
and aided by it, because the educa-
ton it gives is of the practical sort,
cannot have the deficit it incurred
during the training Of soldiers, at the
request of the war department. taken
care of by the legislature.
There was not another agricultural
college in the country that did not
have a deficit. made necessary by the
quick close of the war and there is
not another state IN the union that
has not found a way to take up that
deficit.
If anybody at Santa Pc doubts the
accuracy Of this statement a few tele-
grams will give him the information
The deficit Of the Agricultural college
should be taken care of either by the
legislature or by the state council of
defense, Probably the fund should
come from the latter-but it should
come, and at once.