Show SCHOOLS AND THE NATION the denver new pays this tribute to the american free schools by approximate estimates something like school children will attend tho public schools ot the united states during the coming year this is exclusive of the number attending the colleges ana universities a number so duall in comparison with ohp number in the public schools as to be inconsequential though comparisons are not out of place when the merit of tire work done and its value in a mans are taken into account tho school legions 0 the united states are a tremendous army an army greater than any ever marshaled by an army of peace bent on making the moat and getting the best out ot life and the very thought of so many millions of young minds undisciplined untrained unprepared to master the worlds activities starting to this institution we call school to receive mental and spiritual culture and training for efficient work in the world Is a thought that brings inspiration with it yet school and tha vast operation attendant on its bc gennings and its continued conduct is so matter of fact that we scarcely pause to contemplate acts profound significance in the development of our national and individual life in this respect wo think of schools as a noted philosopher says th e human race thinks of hunger they do not think of it at all except that they are warned when it is time to eat they never think of hunger as a vital necessitating si fact in life tho very motive for half or more of all the worlds activities tivi ties so they disregard a tact so largo and universal as to escape particular attention the school is universal in america and we naturally fail to focus attention on a phenomenon with which we arc so generally familiar yet what single institution in all that comprises this republic should command so much of our earnest attention and patient discriminating interest and loyalty as the public school the school Is the basis of democratic government it is the germ of all the best in government and citizenship and of much that Is worth while in character it is a more powerful force than any other in a land of free opinion and free speech and individual opportunity port unity it makes men trains them for service molds character inspires ideals teaches patriotism and in a word it forms the stale indeed it is well to remember that the public school with its millions of pupils is a far more powerful factor in controlling the life of a democracy than the relatively small group of universities versi ties there la no need to decry the deep influence of colleges and universities versi ties on our intellectual social and political life in molding our ideals and affecting our opinions the college has its place a great place and Is filling it admirably training our greatest minds developing leaders though regrettably enough not many leaders of action and stimulating research and new enthusiasm for all that can appeal to ripe scholarship and cultured minds yet in a country where all men can vote and give free expression to opinion the opinion of the masses the sentiments and ideas that control the people aro vital and control lh character of the nation the college man may direct that opinion he may even form it but in the main he is a part of it or is controlled by it |