The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-12-02

= LETTERS OF THE PEOPLE =
= = = = = + 4 = = = = = = Z
The Bull Pup was the Cause
of 1t All
Have you ever had the sensa-
lions that arise at midnight when
the neighbours blooded pup sets
up a howl, and continues until to-
ward dawn? In what flood of
thots you find yourself engulfed,
and how elusive becomes "gentle
Sleep" But on this occasion I was
reminded of the incident of some
six years ago when Col. Blethen,
of the "Seattle owned and oper-
ated' Times had his pup hailed in
to court by some irate neighbors
for a similar offense, while some
facetious reporter of the Star
wrote the matter up as only you
newspaper men know how. He re-
marked that no doubt this Seattle
owned and operated" dog was
merely taking his cue from his
owner, and initiating the Times
whistle by his yells. Be that as
it may, the neighbours dog sug-
gested the Times, the Times, Seat
tie; Seattle University, and the
University, the merry melee, over
the state-all started by the broad
casting of that blasted pup!
Now that we have all voted safe
~ and sanely, and the state has
been saved from divers perils of
long-named Leagues" we breathe
a sigh of relief, only to find, as
one of the, local political bosses
used to say, that "the main fights
amt yet" sTo be, or not to be-"
to call, or call again, is now the
the soliloquy. docs a dog bark
louder at night, or does it only
seem louder?)
In all the discussions of the
present controversies. some sound
fundamental principles should
have emerged. But such does not
seem to be the case. Senator Turn
er's splendid article of few weeks
ago is about the only Illuminating
thing that has arrived to clarity
the situation. Personalities, GRIM
nations, and determinations have
been the rule. While careful think
ing lis far afield. With the decks
cleared for action, it is time. the
state was getting down to 'brass
tacks." Issues will have to be
clearly stated. and the lines drawn
for action. However, the educa-
tional question will still be with
us, whether Governor Hartley is
recalled or not. There, are some
things for the people to take
squarely in hand, and decide. What
are our educational ideas? and
how shall they be carried out !?
Why should the state furnish ed
ucation to its youth? What is
education in the first place? All
of these things are for the voters
to decide. and not for the educat..
ors to determine. If the state is
educating its citizens, then let us
know what we are about, and how
we intend to do it. To take the
position that educational policies
are beyond the ability of the aver
age citizen to decide, and should
be left to the technically trained
educators. is to condemn the en-
tire system. If we are to do a
thing, let us understand it. or else
not attempt it. Nothing is beyond
the ability of the average adult
to understand and pass judgment
upon, So long as its principles are
simply. and clearly stated. Educa-
ton should be simple process.
and its principles understood by
all. If our systems are so compli-
Gated. so much the worse for the
systems. did you ever hear any
dog howl like that dog does?)
The only reason for education
at public expense, that the writer
can see. is that no Democratic
form of government can continue
to function without intelligent
voters to determine it's policies.
To train an intelligent electorate
is the purpose of public education.
Private individuals are interested
in education from thousand and
one purposes, the state from only
one. The present situation arrives
from the fact that we want the
state to do something for us that
we ought to do for ourselves. Ed
ucationally our thinking is thoroly
communistic. We want the state
to provide any and every sort of
training for its citizens, do re-
search work for any and every
industry at the public expense,
provide expensive technical train
ing, regardless of the fundamental
principle on which public educa-
ton has been justified. There is
a place for grade, high schools,
universities, agricultural colleges,
but there should also be places for
private institutions, and the state
has no right to pre-empt the field.
There are necessities in education,
and there are luxuries. The state
should take care of the necessities
without doubt. The opportunity to
train for citizenship should be op-
en- to every youth. We even go a
step further, and insist that he
receive it. To continue the process,
adding courses and schools to
courses and schools, to cover the
entire universe of learning, to take
the university at it's word, so to
speak, is not the province of state
government. Private ,munificehce
has, and will take care of that,
nor could reasonable objection be
raised to the state administering