The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-08-06


ment among the teachers fraternity
of the historic old county, and hope
it may result in arousing the teach
ers all over the State. They very
properly realize that the X. E. A. is
not working but a talking body and
is doing little to affect the deplorable
educational condition surrounding us
In fact State association meetings, !
like even that ofthe N. E. A., are
junketing trips, not business confer
ences. Perhaps the entertainment
feature of such organizations is pro-
perly made uppermost, for teachers
also require relaxation.
The circular letter of the Christian
County teachers speaks of "the con-
tempt which the average politician
has for school teachers" Certainly
a contempt, but no stronger than that I
for any other classes without organ
lied votes-with emphasis on organ [
lied" Nor any stronger contempt {
than for other classes or individuals
after he has used them-and until
he can hope to reuse them. AS
professional man." he cares for
"cases"-and for them only while he
is exploiting them.
Have Taken Big Step.
There is little fellow feeling be-
tween city and college teachers on
the one hand and rural teachers on g
the other. The two classes do not
work effectively together, except &C.
casiOnally for brief period. These
problems and working conditions are al
so different as to prevent any close 10
interest in each other and any class OF
cooperation. Nobody is to blame
it is simply a condition that can not =
be overcome. If the teachers of y
Christian have learned that they must
look to themselves for salvation, they y
have taken big step in working it o
out.
The rural teachers problem in Ken ia
lucky bulks large-so large that it WI
seems hopeless If the da
darkest hour is just before day, sure ne
ly the hue of the present hour indi- ne
Gates the coming of the dawn. Faint 70
heart meier won fair lady," nor any
thing else worthy of winner. da
Beginning Is Ending? no
thu
The Christian county teachers have
made fine beginning. Will they let I'll
It also be the ending? Do they real 70
ize the immensely of their plan and
its possibilities? Do they have the te- Inc
nacity to cling to their resolve, the 90,
to put is thru? Can
hey get other counties in considera- no.
bic numbers to back them up? Can a.
hey find brief, apt name for their
There is much in a name IT,
thought Shakespeare to the contrary. od
Is there life enough left in the rural 80,
,eacher to make an effort" as Mrs
Chick says in "Dombey and SOM" ~
So mote it be, but we fear thine
will tell. ~.
Regretful as we are to say it, there M
Ices not seem to US much life left z,
n the average Kentucky teacher,
indeed, less than there was quarter
century ago. The leaders must have
1een doing some 'tall'' sleeping III
some deep doing during the last NJ,
years. There seems scarce to
y life enough left in his foot to "reg-
ster kick" We shall be delighted m,
f Mr.. Ben H. Cook, Mr.. Leslie Brown ma
md their fellows and sisters can ne
,rove the contrary, and "kick" con-
yincingly when the committee ie,
caches Frankfort. al
Cause Is Just. Fl
We hope the march on the capital m
.ity may not, like Coxey's "army" ic
n the nineties, evaporate as it APP br
,roaches the city, till it will have to or
iced the warning, "Keep off of the ty
.rass." Their cause is just and we at
ruSJ IHSy may get ISSuJIS' ANY way, tr
Kentucky does not somehow go tn
eeper into her pocket, then she will
ave to pack up her school system in
er "old kit bag" The system is
winding so fast there will soon be
DOM for it. Oh
Such rumblings around over the pr,
tate are a hopeful sign. We regret pr
here are not more of them. They as
now that few people at least are 90
waking to the danger, as the evan sp'
elist used to say, "before it is ever I[ pig
lstlngiy too late" The teachers in AZ
crest and the schools interest in this
laster are precisely identical. As Tr
le teachers pay goes up, so will his hOl
as his qualifications go
. 50 will the school.
Teachers Pluck Honored. -
W. bopor +ha Christian pOuntv ING