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In the age in which we are living, an education is an essential part of our life's training and this education is only to be acquired in our schools. As a direct result of this, our country is supplied with a great number of well trained citizens who can serve their native land much more efficiently than would otherwise be possible. It is because of our schools that such great strides have been made in the world of science, art, music and historical research. No country in which education is neglected can hope to become great. Perhaps we have no more striking example of the realization of this fact than in the case of Great Britain. Despite the great national debt she is carrying, her grant for education has been increased since the war. Let us first of all consider the public schools. When we are six or seven years of age, we are transplanted from the tender care of our homes and are thrown into the company of other children. Under the gentle guidance of our teachers, we are taught the rudiments of all learning. We here learn the invaluable lessons of fair play and of being kind and considerate to others. A good public school does much to make up for any deficiencies in our home life. But now we are finished with public school. We can read, write and spell with some intelligence and we are at an age when we can be of some assistance to our parents. Why should we go on to high school to learn science, languages and mathematics which we will never use? What advantages can we possibly gain from the study of these subjects? In the first place, some of us specialize in one or more of these branches, go on to university and are thus able to make a livelihood from them. Since this, however, only occurs in a minority of cases, it can be safely omitted. In the majority of cases, we leave the school to go out into business ventures. We are able to attain good positions with a wide field for advancement which are denied to students with only a public school education. The constant association with the well trained minds of our teachers inevitably raises the standards of our thinking. We learn to accept responsibilities. We learn to stand on our feet and express ourselves in an intelligent manner. Our patriotism is stimulated. High School is a democracy on a small scale. By learning to take our part gracefully in this small democracy, we are able to accept greater responsibilities in the greater democracy." C Kellogg, XIII |