The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-07
PROF. DONEELLY
ON EDUCATION
Talks on Duty of Citizens as to Vot-
ing Relation to Schools and
Other Responsibilities.

Professor J. F. Donelly, a former
professor of English at Columbia Uni
versity, but more recently connected
with the educational department of
Leslie's Weekly, and at this time rep
resenting the interdepartmental social
hygiene board in Pensacola, in speak
ing Of his impressions of Pensacola,
last night said
I'm the many cities which I have
visited throughout this great country
of ours, have found citizens who
complained about the existence of con-
ditions which do not come up to their
ideals. In Pensacola as well as in
these other cities I have had citizens
complain about certain conditions.
These good intentioned citizens have
asked How can such things be rem
edied?"
In Pensacola there are more than
thirty thousand people; of these six
teen thousand are white. The voting
power of Pensacola is estimated at
from eight to ten thousand. The ac-
tual voting population is five thous-
and five hundred and ninety seven,
and at your last election three thou
sand, four hundred and seventy-nine
people voted. Almost fifty per cent
of your citizens who are registered
did not vote and only fifty per cent
of those who have the privilege of
vote did not register. So that in all,
taking the voting population of nine
thousand, five thousand, five hundred
and twenty people did not use the
privilege of American citizenship.
Citizens complain and yet they do
not use the power of the ballot. These
citizens give tacit permission to exist
ing evils. They viii tell you that their
vote would do no good. Rome was not
built in a day Constructive and good
government does not spring up in a
year. Sometimes it takes many years
to adjust things as the conscientious
and good citizens would have them,
but the constant use of the gift of
will help.
Men are chosen to office by the
voters-not by those who do not vote.
The reason these elected officers are
called the representatives of 10 peo-
Pile is because our form Of government
presupposes that all the citizens who
have the right to vote will use that
inestimable privilege.
When all the citizens place their
ballots in the box then only can we
expect to have the cause of the people
heard, then only can we expect to have
good government. If any clique con-
trolls the few this is overcome by the
intelligent vote.
These thoughts should prompt the
thinking populace of Pensacola. These
OF the voter of Pensacola now The
tax rate and the school funds-two
most serious and relative questions.
Other things also need to be remedied
but the time is not opportune to talk
of them.
Last year the closing of the schools
In many counties throughout the
state of FTorida-in some cases months
before they should close. the lack of
moneys 20 finance the schools of Pen
sacola--these are very serious ques-
tions. The children Of Pensacola, as
well as the rest OF Florida are to be-
come our best citizens. The child who
receives good, wholesome nourishment,
plenty OF fresh air and sunshine, u.s.
nally grows up to be healthy adult.
If disease OF some sort or other does
not retard its progress.
The child in train!ng-that is, the
one attending school, cannot be ex-
pected to grow mentally il not given
the proper education and by those
competent to teach. 1t is also neces-
sary to have the child attend school at
least two hundred days OF the year.
The scholastic year is usually that
long. Lack of competency in the
teaching profession is not due entire
~ TO the instructor.
ITO be good teacher one must be