Coolidge on Education

"As we look back upon all this development, while we
know that it was absolutely dependent upon a reign of law,
nevertheless some of us can not help thinking how little of
it has been dependent on acts of legislation. Given their
institutions, the people themselves have in the past, as they
must in the future, to a very large degree worked out their
own salvation without the interposition of the Government.
It is always possible to regulate and supervise by legislation what has already been created, but while legislation can stimulate and encourage, the real creative ability which builds up and develops the country, and in general makes human existence more tolerable and life more complete, has to be supplied by the genius of the people themselves. The Government can supply no substitute for enterprise. As a result of the activity of all these forces, our country has developed enormous resources. It has likewise to be admitted that its requirements are very large, but the fact remains that it has come into a position where it has the accumulations of wealth and means of production more adequately to provide for the welfare of its people, and more securely to establish their physical, mental, and moral well being. You are making your contribution to this great
work in the field of education. It is here especially that
the growth and progress of our country can be most easily
understood." 

"...  It is impossible to conceive that there should
be any increase in agricultural products, in the production
of manufactures, or any other increase in our material
wealth, through ignorance. The reaction to using the re-
sources of the country to develop the brains of the country
through education has always been greatly to stimulate
and increase the power of the people to produce."

"It is necessary also that education should be the hand-
maid of citizenship. Our institutions are constantly and
very properly the subject of critical inquiry. Unless their
nature is comprehended, and their origin is understood,
unless their value be properly assessed, the citizen falls
ready prey to those selfish agitators who would exploit his
prejudices to promote their own advantage. On this day,
of all days, it ought to be made clear that America has had
its revolution and placed the power of Government square-
ly, securely, and entirely in the hands of the people. For
all changes which they may desire, for all grievances which
they may suffer, the ballot box furnishes a complete method
and remedy. Into their hands has been committed com-
plete jurisdiction and control over all the functions of Gov-
ernment. For the most part our institutions are attacked
in the name of social and economic reform. Unless there
be some teaching of sound economics in the schools, the
voter and taxpayer are in danger of accepting vague theories
which lead only to social discontent and public disaster.
The body politic has little chance of choosing patriotic of-
ficials who can administer its financial affairs with wisdom
and safety, unless there is a general diffusion of knowledge
and information on elementary economic subjects sufficient
to create and adequately to support public opinion. Everyone ought to realize that the sole source of national wealth is thrift and industry, and that the sole supply of the public treasury is the toil of the people. "

"...Another element must be secured in the training of cit-
izenship, or all else will be in vain. All of our learning and
science, our culture and our arts, will be of little avail, un-
less they are supported by high character, unless there be
honor, truth, and justice. Unless our material resources are
supported by moral and spiritual resources, there is no
foundation for progress. A trained intelligence can do
much, but there is no substitute for morality, character, and
religious convictions. Unless these abide, American citizen-
ship will be found unequal to its task."

"When it is remembered that ignorance is the most fruitful source of poverty, vice, and crime, it is easy to realize the necessity for removing what is a menace, not only to our social well-being, but to the very existence of the Republic. A failure to meet this obliga-
tion registers a serious and inexcusable defect in our Gov-
ernment. Such a condition not only works to a national
disadvantage, but directly contradicts all our assertions re-
garding human rights. One of the chief rights of an Ameri-
can citizen is the right to an education. The opportunity
to secure it must not only be provided, but if necessary
made compulsory."