Washington State University - Chinook Yearbook (Pullman, WA)

Page 29 text:

MIRIAM GERLACH. DEAN OF WOMEN Twenty-five

Page 28 text:

Board of Regents HON. LOUIS F. HART, Governor of the State, Advisory Member Ex-Officio A. D. DUNN .... W. A. RITZ .. J. H. HULBERT F. J. WILMER ... A. W. DAVIS . .Wapato Walla Walla ■ Mt. Vernon Rosalia Spokane Administrative Officers E. O. HOLLAND O. L, WALLER . C. A. ISAACS . W. C. KRUEGEL . F. T. BARNARD . MIRIAM C. GERLACH President Vice President General Secretary Auditor Registrar Dean of Women Twenty-four

Page 30 text:

Higher Education and Democracy VERY public agency, in this time of depressed economic conditions, should respond cheerfully to the demand for economy, and it is the part of wisdom for the State College of Washington to catch step with the econ¬ omic demands of the day. We are told, also, that higher education tempts the individual away from labor and out of the productive class. This is a broad charge. This does not apply to men and women of the State College of Washington who are making great sacrifices to become properly equipped for their life’s work. In the majority of cases young men and women receiving a college education are able to increase their earning capacity. But this is not the all-important issue. Our young people do not deserve an education at public expense unless they look far beyond the desire to make money. With a college education comes a more complete understanding of the large social question affecting the stability and progress of a democracy. With this un¬ derstanding should come a determination to serve democracy in times of need. Some folk have the notion that a democracy needs no defenders except when foes invade her land. This is a one-sided notion. The greatest dangers of a democracy are found in times of peace when the ideals fought for during a World War are forgotten. Few countries have been destroyed by invasion; many have disintegrat¬ ed and disappeared because governmental agencies become insufficient, or corrupt. A democracy cannot survive unless all its people are educated sufficiently to understand the underlying principles of a democratic government, and are willing, day in and day out, to fight in defense of these principles. We may include such essentials as protection of life and property, and the equalizing of economic oppor¬ tunity. Equal opportunities will not be possible unless there is provided from the kindergarten to the last year of college or university a system that gives the fullest possible opportunity for the obscure child of talent to prepare himself for any trade or vocation open to men. Here in America some have erred in assuming that education could make lead¬ ers of all. This assumption is absurd; but America is justified in saying to her men and women: “Many of you have not had the opportunity to make the most of your talents, but through the establishment of a public school system your children will have the fullest opportunity to obtain the best possible training; and if they are talented and possess qualities of leadership, they will have a fair opportunity to win success in their chosen professions and attain to positions of high responsi¬ bility in public service.’’ The record of the graduates of the State College of Washington is excellent. With practically no exceptions these graduates have been successful in their chosen professions; in a few instances they have made a great deal of money, but best of all, with practically no exception, they have upheld in their respective communities the principles of a democracy and helped to protect the government of which they are a part. In the great majority of cases these young people have made large re¬ turns to the state and the nation for the educational advantages they obtained at the State College of Washington. This is the record of every sound institution of high¬ er learning in America. Should we cast aside this great democratizing and equalizing agency, free pub¬ lic education, the ideals of democracy would be lowered, political stability would end, and the economic prosperity of our people would be jeopardized, if not totally destroyed. E. O. HOLLAND, President. Twenty-six