- One hundred years ago the workers fought for universal education.
- As a result we have our public schools of today.
- Our public schools have been our chief bulwark against oppression.
- Our public schools are our chief bulwark against oppression.
- Our public schools are our greatest safeguard for the protection of such liberty as we enjoy.
- Our public school system embodies a socialistic ideal.
- Our public school system is the most democratic of our institutions.
- There has been a subtle subversion of the ideal.
- The public school system has been made to serve the master class.
- We have spent millions to make the ideal a reality.
- Have we realized the ideal?
- Is there universal education?
- Is there education for every child beneath the flag?
- The grounds of our public schools have cost millions.
- The buildings have cost millions.
- The courses of study are many.
- They are varied.
- They are elaborate.
- But the workers of the world do not enjoy this feast.
- The children of the workers do not enjoy this feast.
CLASSES OF CONJUNCTIONS
329. Conjunctions are divided into classes, as are other parts of speech, according to the work which they do. Notice the following sentences and notice how the use of a different conjunction changes the meaning of the sentence.
- We are united and we shall win.
- When we are united, we shall win.
In the first sentence the conjunction and connects the two clauses, we are united and we shall win. They are both independent clauses, neither is dependent upon the other, and both are of equal importance. But by the use of the conjunction when, instead of the conjunction and, we have changed the meaning of the sentence. There is quite a difference in saying, We are united and we shall win, and When we are united we shall win.
By connecting these two statements with the conjunction when, we have made of the clause, we are united, a dependent clause, it modifies the verb phrase shall win. It tells when we shall win, just as much as if we had used an adverb to modify the verb phrase, and had said, We shall win tomorrow, instead of, We shall win when we are united.
So in these two sentences we have two different kinds of conjunctions, the conjunction and, which connects clauses of equal rank or order, and the conjunction when, which connects a dependent clause to the principal clause.
330. So the conjunctions like and are called co-ordinate conjunctions. Co-ordinate means literally of equal rank or order. Conjunctions like when are called sub-ordinate conjunctions. Sub-ordinate means of inferior rank or order.
331. A conjunction is a word that connects words or phrases or clauses.