Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-22
CAN EDUCATION ASSURE FREE INSTITU-
TIONS?
WEEK" is a week which

NTDUCATION WEEK" is a week which
| II Is observed under the auspices of
40 the National Education association,
the United States Bureau Of Education and
the American Legion. It's purpose is to
quicken popular interest in education and
bring the people closer to their schools of all
grades.
President Coolidge has designated the
week beginning November 18th as "Educa-
| ton Week" this year, and has issued accord
ingly presidential proclamation urging it's
observance throughout the country.
| The proclamation of the President is
| characterized by clarity of thought and CO.
| gency of expression. 1t brings in view the
history of the past, the duties of the present,
/ and the needs of the future. Upon the whole
it is'a most admirable document.
| The following are some of the striking
| paragraphs of the proclamation:
| From its earliest beginnings, America
has been devoted to the cause of education.
This country was founded on the ideal of
ministering to the individual 1t was realized
that this must be done by the institutions
of religion and government In order that
there might be a properly educated clergy
and we'll trained civil magistrates, one of
the first thoughts of the early settlers was to
provide for a college of liberal culture, while
for the general diffusion of knowledge, pri-
, mary schools were established This course
, was taken as the necessary requirement of
enlightened society.
'Such a policy, once adopted has contin-
ued to grow in extent. With the adoption
of the federal constitution and the establish
ment OF free governments in the states of
the Union, there was additional reason for
broadening the opportunity for education.
Our country adopted the principle of self
government by a free people. Those who
were worthy Of being free, were worthy of
being educated. Those who had the duty,
and responsibility of government, must
necessarily have the education with which to
discharge the obligations of citizenship The
sovereign had to be educated The SOW
erelgn had become the people. Schools and
universities were provided by the various
governments, and founded and fostered by
private charity, until their buildings dotted
all the land
1.-THE willingness of the people to bear
the burdens of maintaining these institu-
tons, and the patriotic devotion of an army
of teachers, who, in many cases, might have
earned larger incomes in other pursuits have
made it possible to accomplish results with
which we may well be gratified. But the
task is not finished, it has only been begun
Every American citizen is entitled to
liberal education. Without this, there is no
guarantee for the permanence of free institu-
! tions, no hope of perpetuating self-govern-
ment. Despotism finds it's chief support in
Ignorance. knowledge and freedom go hand
in hand"
The emphasis placed by the President on
the Importance of education is not misplaced:
but he seems to have forgotten for the mo-
ment some instructive chapters in human
history and, in consequence, to have over
stated the power of education to safeguard
political freedom.
1t does not accord with the facts of his
tory to say knowledge and freedom go
hand in hand" Such has not been the case
always, or even generally.
Free governments have risen by the pa
triotism and heroism of comparatively illit-
crate people, and they have fallen when the
people loving these privileges and benefits
were most enlightened.
The Grecian republics were founded by
people far less educated than were those who
allowed them to perish. The Grecians were