The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-09-17
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a difficult road. 1t meets emergencies
as well as it can, pays going costs as
far as it is able, and then passes the
balance on to the next generation. 1t
may be that there is no other way, it
may even be possible that those who
come after us should pay for the bene-
fits they are to receive; the fact re-
mains, however, that each generation
has its own difficulties, and the men
and women of the future will have their
own burdens to bear. Whatever we
may do today, wisely or unwisely, we
must accept the responsibility for send
ing youth into maturity equipped with
the best training we can afford to give.
In view of the increased demands placed
on schools and additional service rem
dered there will be no retrenchment in
educational expenditures, even if the
present costs are high. Of course, we
spend more for education today than
we did twenty years ago! We spend
more for other things, too. Every type
of public service has been extended, and
we have not always been clear in the
matter of relative values and proper
distribution of public funds. We take
million dollar sport gates" in stride
and accept increased budgets for pro-
viding the means and materials for
building super highways as a matter
of course. Activities have increased,
and expenditures have kept pace.
Should such trite sayings be news, the
days Immediately before us will bring
disillusionment
1t is futile to talk of curtailment of
public expenditure unless we are willing
to accept a commensurate reduction in
service-and human nature has always
been loath to relinguish anything which
has come to be considered essential for
the maintenance of accepted standards.
Minnesota people are doing a big job
and fighting desperate fight; they are
also determined that the children shall
have their chance. They know that we
cannot solve the problems of the future
on a lowered educational level. The
security of the state depends upon it's
manhood and womanhood, and the
proper training of youth is the accepted
means of building the right type of
citizenship. Money judiciously expended
for education is an investment and the
returns are always high.
Minnesota has excellent schools; the
best are equal or superior to schools
anywhere. They are not all good, how
ever, and the spread between the best
and the poorest is appalling. 1t is not
democratic that educational oppor-
tunities should be determined to so
great an extent by the change of resi-
dence. It is more reasonable to hold
that the Crossroads child" may mean
as much to the state as any other and
that he should be assured a minimum
of training in keeping with the needs
Of today and tomorrow. We want proper
opportunities for our own children; we
ought TO make it impossible for every
other child to reach maturity in Min
neSota without receiving at least high
school training based on curricular con-
tent in keeping with his needs, in
tereStS, and abilities.
This is the time of the year when a
vast army of boys and girls leave the
farms, villages and metropolises to go
to school. Rather hopeful thing when
one finds that the group is growing con-
stantly larger. There is another vast
group, however, for whom no place has
been provided. That is the large num-
Der who are not interested in profess
sional or academic training, those who
desire craft and vocational preparation
The colleges and universities have little
to offer them, industry cannot take
them. 1t seems that the state should
establish vocational schools at strategic
points where their needs might be cared
for. The reaction when this topic is
preached is always where is the money
coming from?" OF course that is i'm
portant; but the fact remains, never
theless, that these children should be
provided for; and it is just possible
that careful weighing of values would
make possible readjustments whereby
they, too, could fit into the scheme of
things.
An unhealthy situation has developed