Milford chronicle., 1921-02-04
JACK


(The following article was written
by former resident of Milford, fol-
lowing a recent visit to his home
state-Editor)
A hunting trip in Delaware after II
years absence is apt to have other at
fractions than. partridges and rabbits.
The level, sandy country with it's
groves of pine and it's thickets of hol-
" and bramble looked the same, the
improvements in highways and farms
were interesting, but, decidedly, the
most interesting feature 1 met there
was my 14-year-old boy friend, Jack
Jack was most interesting because
he typified the most vital and import
ant change in recent years in Della
ware-the uplift and improvement OF
her public school system.
Jack was a freckle nOsed, good ma
tured specimen of ,bOyhOod and there
are no better anywhere than you find
way down in Delaware, and none
whom their state and country owe
more in the way of educational op-
portunity.
Jacks father was of the conserva-
tive, inert type. His farm was run
down and the buildings stood gaunt,
unpainted and neglected. Any activ-
ity about the place was centered in
Jack and Jack was some busy boy.
For Jack, in spite of his poverty and
in spite of the fact that the graded
school was eight miles away, was go
ing to school and Jack could see his
future leading straight before him
through the State High School, thru
the State College at Newark, and back
again to the home farm which he plan
ned to redeem through the knowledge
gained in his agricultural course at
college.
Jack had a large pen of guinea pigs
on which he centered his greatest in
terest and care. I found it was from |
those guinea pigs, which had ready
market in the city, that Jack paid for I
his shoes and clothing. I found the
state took care of his tuition, his books |
and his transportation to school, and
it was these facts that made is poss-
ble for Jack to go to school at all.
It was these things too that made
Jack and his future look so different
rom that of dozens of his type. 1
Knew, ten years ago under the old con-
litions, Jack would have finished
whatever his local school could give
lin, poorly equipped, poorly Organiz-
ID and poorly taught as it so often
vas. The future beyond that would
lave been blank and hopeless. He
would probably have hung around the
ome farm a little while and then join
ID. the great crowd of negroes and
oreigners in our large cities that sell
heir strength at hard manual labor
or few dollars a day in blind al
ey' jobs without future or promise.
'hese people in dull times are the
rst thrown on the streets and be-
ONE the breeding grounds for the I
gitators and anarchists that destroy !
roperty and life and defy and de- /
ounce law and government.
Is there not an element of retribu- \
on and Justice in the Jacks of the =
asst doing this when their state and
0untry denied their youth the birth
ght of every American boy and girl
full and free opportunity for edu-
alton and self-development to the full
leasure of their God given abilities?
an Delaware do less for her sons
nd daughters?
It was with a sinking of the heart
lat I learned that there is a wide i
bread movement in Delaware to de- :
rive Jack of his opportunity. Such 4
n offense seemed inexplicable to me. 4
is a Christian country and
hristianity, of all religions, exalts
nildhood. Its Founder said, "He that
ffends against one of these little
nes, My children, it were better that
milestone be hanged about his neck
nd he were sunk in the depths Of the
"a"
They say it raises taxes, but surely
arents cannot object to increased
.xes when it means increased Oppor-
mites for their children, and those
ithout children cannot object to maxi Z
g that small contribution toward the
9velopment of the states future cit 3
ems.
Another said, 1--WE want our chill
'en to work for us instead of going Z
school," Why should these little
bodies toll for you? They !
e nobody's slaves. Negro slavery 2
as abolished. in Delaware in 1867. 3
lrely you won't put your own flesh 2
Id blood on a lower plane than the 3
,groes. !
Give Jack and his sister Jennie Z
cir chance!