The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-09-15
Criminal.
FOR THE JACKSON STANDARD.
AMERICAN EDUCATION.

No. 2.
In undertaking the work of education
at all, government, as the representative
and agent of society, is influenced by two
considerations; lis duty TO individuals,
and its duty to society. Its duty TO indi.
viduals, is measured by their rights; its
duty to society by its wants. Society
wants and needs the education OF every
child, and it is the right of every child to
receive it. The well established princi-
pie upon which every efficient system OF
public education is founded, clothes the
government with authority to secure an
education to every child. 1t virtually pla.
ces government in The relation of COM
con parent to all the children under its
jurisdiction, and by assumingthe relation.
it incurs the obligations Of parent,
among the first OF which, is that OF giving
an education to the young.
If the only possible excuse for parental
neglect in this particular, be the unavod.
able want of means, society can never be
exonerated from its obligation, for it al
ways may command the means, and it has
no right TO withhold these means simply
to relieve its purse. The true way Of
looking at the ability, to educate all the
children of a community, is 10 consider
not only the means OF individuals, but
those OF society, at large. The aggre
gate property Of The community consti-
tutes the iund for this purpose. Popular
education is a social want, common
good in which every member of society
is interested, and should therefore be Sus.
tanned and paid for out of the common
purse Of society, that is, by each indiyid'
ual in proportion to the value Of his prop.
erty, which is in exact proportion to his
share Of the benefit enjoyed.
The right, the policy and duty of Leg,
islalve provision for the support of Popu'
lar education, have from the earliest Pc
rod Of our general government, been dis
linctly and practically asserted. To
make such provision, the aggregate prop
erty of community has been considered,
as being at the disposal OF government
In short all the children Of community
are considered as public dependencies
as belongi g to community, and the entire
property thereof, as OF common parent
is made responsible for their education.
II is a well conceded principle that so
ciety has supreme and undoubted right
to do whatever it pleases. individuals
may do whatever they choose, provided
they do not infringe upon the rights Of
others, Or violate the rules Of society /;
but society may safely do what she plea
ses, being responsible to no higher pow.
Ell Of human organization. Society has
its terms Of union, its articles of agree.
ments. and every one who seeks admis
sion within its pale, does so on the impli.
ed condition Of conformity 10 their re-
quiremenls. Every man demands Tor his
children the rights and privileges Of citi.
zens. and they should be fitted by appro
PIRATE education for the duties Of society,
asthey have norightlo participation there
in on any other terms.
Here then we have a criterion by which
to ascertain the nature and extent Of ma.
tional education. ltby no means propo.
ses the absurd idea Of educating all eract.
Ly alike. All, though endowed with
equal rights, are not endowed with the