The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-04-27
4 woRn FnR OrR sCMOOLS.

The statement made during the war
that - per cent OF she men examined
in the draft were unable To read aud
write aud the consequent branding of
our army aS ignorant by our T. ;.
school Commissioner has caused news
.u.ucrs and magazines tO encourage dis
cusSions on schools. why - much IL
uoraucc i'm the 4. =. land fun OF
Schoolsg' and write articles blaming the
schools.
When we examine this - per cent
Ignorance in the war draft with wide
omen eyes rather than as the blind men.
who Judged the whole elephant 10y the
part they put their hands upon. we
Shlu find that ir really casts no shadow
GpOu our schuulS. as they were not In
touch with them.
This druft Included the grown negro.
hrge per cent of whom though hay-
lug every opportunity 90 learn 90 read
and write. have not even yet acquired
the habit of attending school. nor the
ambition. nor the mental ability to
learn even the very necessary . RS.
The white element included the ne
elected mountaineer of IL and over,
whose opportunities 90 attend the pub
lie schools have been So mea ger. he had
acquired strong prejudice against II.
This coalition is very much improved
aud MS he II both religious and brainy.
little more time will eliminate his
ignorance They were heroes i'm our
war--pruvcd themselves loo per cent
Nmcricuu-so evef though many of
them may not know how 10 read and
write. yet they are mo- menace. But
the foreign element of our draft from
vast majority Of whom never saw the
inside of one of our public schools is
indeed something 90 worry over. In
the one mining district I visited. their
homes were two room shucks. built of
rough boxing; the dress of the women
aud children was like unto the home,
a simple covering for the body without
regard To beauty and style Though
handsome churches and schools were
near they never entered either. This
foreign element il inclined 90 be- one to
itself. which should not be- tolerated.
Verify those Americans near having
the opportunity Co guide AMI direct
them should increasingly call for Divine
Aid. They need among them not only
our home missionaries bat rare teach
ers having Initiative. common sense.
and that divine ability 20 inspire. arouse
but pride in honest labor, high regard
for truth. love of country and a rever-
cud love and fear of Cod.
dare say some Of our gypsies were
la the draft. and their near of Kin the
transient poor White people. known i'm
tac uo. and east ms "shiftieSs," and
by the southern negro as pc white
trash" a few are in every community
They move about apparently in search
ot work. cvadiug compulsory school
laws and truHut officers. Their child
rem attend school ugt % few days of
each year DO the gypsics attend
SCHOOL, Wonder if anyw here in these
United States this question mark coud
be- eliminated and Information given as
to their interest la their educational
advantages. Would recommend that
both these GLASSES learn baseball at
least. This outline of our elephant does
not ooS 80 Formidable 30 present. Clear
~ he L. not OF our schools. not "A schools
product should hc be allowed To re
main iu present conditions ne would
prove not only "a disgrace but menace
to our country. All this stir about
him * worth while but cmphatically
thi~ - per cent ignorance OF our draft
a. not of our schools-castS no shadow
as 20 their efficiency.
This glorious 80 per cent of our.
draft. who could read and write, we
,laim a. a product Of our schools for
they were from public schools. private
schools. church schools. high schools.
colleges and universities. lis no Won
dCr they newer Came 90 retreat" and
sent around the world the story of the
glory of our Star Spangled Banner.
Their achievements stand out as bril-
liant as the sun. while tiuting the
western sky and sending his golden bars
ncyuss the Mississippi. Let rs thank |
tod for our American schools that they |
nave been efficient and sufficient In |
their day that as proved by the World |
War. our great army of educated men. |
most precious product of our schools. |
* ms crown uf glory Co our country. |
Guild anyone suppose that our teachers /
OF this army have Soilcd their souls |
lahoring for mere money! They have |
been as faithful as missionaries and |
more poorly paid than common labr. |
\ little gratitude expressed would not |
,lo them the least bit Of harm.
In the last five years. remuneration \
Co our teachers hns been more than /
doubled True this came grudgingly !
hut the result viii De- for good just the