Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-07-22

ell ana tEdiltb.
Sine" the money paid for rdu-
cation i. after I'll. taken not from
what We OF this generation wuuld
o.hr"wi>c use, but rather from that
which Ne would leave 10 our chill
dr>.. :, II fair ANA just to them to
take >u much of their monr\ for
their education?
Would il pay them a> an invest
mcnt?
Al II years old the life expect
ancN il nearly ii years: that is.
those who are alive al 81 Wears live
Ia an average age Of 65 Wears. and
MIL have An average of ii wears
Cf Dr"duvtiv" life in all if they have
been y" taught and trained rs To en-
able Them to preserve their health
and strength. The II $40 paid for
the education Of the individual.
spread over II years for paymcn.
is less than so per year. The in
vcStmCnt problem resolves itself.
therefore. into this simple question:
Will the average man and woman
with such education and training
as could be given at 4 cost of 81 300
produce SO Il wear more than they
would without any education or
training of the schools, and living
in Il society of illitcratcS without
training or skill except such as
might be gained by their untrain-
ed, undirccicd efforts? Will such
education add $50 Il year to The
notwithstanding power of the average
man aud woman? If so. prepare
ton for citizenship and all that in
dividual culture means will be
what the Spectator calls "vclvct;"
that is. clear profit.
In answering this question. il
should be remembered that an av-
eragc Of 81 800 per capita for cdu-
cation will give elementary and
high school education to all, in
schools taught by competent teach
crS and adequately equipped; and
the higher education Of the college
university. professional, and tech
meal schools to two or three times
as many as now get it, and will
provide opportunity for extension
education Tor all those who are un-
able to attend college or any other
school of higher education. 1t
should also be remembered that.
because of the higher grade Of uni
rcrSal education each individual
man and woman will live in bet
ter society, and have the hclp of
the many new scientific discover
| les and many forms of labOr-Saving
machinery and inventions which
greatly multiply the productive
power of the worker.
But wha! about The interest on
The Sl.5u0? Since all The money is
| sill in the possession of the people
as whole. no interest is paid out
side the group and none IS. there
| tore, to be counted against The in
NcStmcni.
Can We afford it? Can we risk
the possibility Of this increase in
The productive power of the people?
| Inc - 900 means an average of
81 ,066 more than the average at the
rate We were paying in 1918. 10
| pay This excess in the fl wears
would require IN increase Of some
,llnS less than SO year in pro-
ductiVc power. Can we risk this in
crease? 1t is 4 business investment
| Of the money Of our children for
whom we are The guardians. If it
IS quite certain. as it is, that the en-
Tire excess oc expense for educa-
ton would be repaid in the first
four or five Years through increase
Ill productive power and all The in
creased prodEclivencsS Of the re-
naming 10 years remain as clear
profit, as will all the spiritual val
ucS and the finer possibilities Of
citizenship. can we in justice 10
Our children refuse to make The in
vcSimcnt for them?
p. Il. ChriOn.