The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-01-25
EducatIonaI Department.
Prepared for The Ausghaniar. ]

<dItSyNQNltuN. |
COMPULSORY AUTOMATICALLY the
report of the State Superintendent for the
school year ending in June of the past
year, 1t appears that the whole number of
children In attendance in the various pub
lie schools of the State is 629, ,587, being
a decrease of over 5000 from the number
attending during the preceding year
The percentage of attendance of these 629.-
5S7 school children is 628-thousandths
In other words, nearly four of every ten
pupils whose names were on the school
rolls for 1865 were constantly at homo.
According to the United States census
report for 1860, the number OF persons in
the State between FIVE and twenty wears of
age was one million thnty-tsree thousand
and fUe hundred. Subtracting from this
amount one-half of those between fifteen
and twenty years of age, and there remain
about eight hundred and strty-eioht thous-
and secen hundred and Jftty children be-
tween i've and seventeen and half years
OF age, exclusive of those in the city and
county OF Philadelphia. The actual av-
erage attendance throughout the East
school year was somewhat less than
| 4OO, QUO. That Is, of the children over
! i've and under seventeen and half years
of age, there were 35, ,0c0 less than one
halt IN attendance at our schools. The
average cost of each pupil TO the State,
inclusive of all expenses, was sixty-eight
cents, OF which thirty-four cents were
thrown away by the absence of one-half
and more Of the children OF such ages as
those who are usually found in school
-Four million seven hundred and seventy
five thousand dollars were last year ex-
pended in support of the schools, of which
one-hait was lavished on children away
from school, some necessarily, some in at
tendance at private institutions, and 9th
ers needlessly through the inattention,
downright neglect, or obstinacy of parents
on girls lounging about home, on boys
roaming in the street, or hanging around
taVerns, not to mention other places of
resort incCmparably worse.
This statement is made, as we have said,
of the last school year, but is just as true
of the one previous, and viii be of tho
present, as of the year ending in Juno
last. The figures are not new, but old,
and familiar to those conversant with our
system of instruction. 1t will startle 10
| one VINO at all notices the annual reports
of our State Superintendent to say that
from one-third to one-haif our labor and
money are expended in vain. That to
which We propose to call attention is not
the waste OF toll and treasure, but the
remedy.
That it would be IN contrast with that
freedom from restraint 20 which we have
been long used, aud excite the opposition
of many, does not admit of dispute, yet
. h.a hot 70 4 ha af IL
| whole matter IS, why it would not be the
policy of wisdom TO compel parents and
guardians to send to school during GER
tain portion of each year the youth under
their charge between six and sixteen
years of age, stipulating at the same time
for an equally certain percentage Of at
tendance, save only in cases of sickness.
1t is alike the dictate of reason aud law,
that he who assumes the responsibility of
fatherhood shall suitably provide for those
to whom he has given existence fair op-
portunity of leading rseful and virtuous
lives. Maintenance, Protection, and Ed
ucation, the law has through time imme-
mortal recognized as the three grand du-
ties of parents to children. And We ap-
prehend that the same authority which
can rightfully require that the indentures
of every apprentice shall make provision
for his education, may go one step fur
ther aud require the same boon on behalf
of every child in the commonwealth. Not
only the necessity of education, but the
right of the State to demand it, is again
recognized in the taxation of the property
of every citizen for the support of our
free-school system. As long as allegiance
is claimed from every person born on tho
soil of our country, every person SO born
must be considered as belonging in part
to the State, in whom the State has an
interest, by whom she is to-5e honored or
!. dishonored, and for whom she has an uu-
, ceasing and tender regard. But if the
, State looks for allegiance from all her
sons, for performances of the duties of
citizenship from all, then, by every die
: tate of reason and justice is she bound to
; see that every one of her children is fitted
for the proper discharge of the duties i'm
posed on him If the law discerns that a
, child is destitute of necessary food, or raj
! ment, through the cruelty of the parent,
! or is sufferer from needlessly severe
: punishment, it will not only rescue the
sufferer, but also punish the guilty. Why
, not have as great care for the mind as
} for the body :?
a He who is unwilling o. too negligent to
/ see to the proper education of his own
progeny, is himself totally unfit to exercise
2 the high privileges of membership in the
commonwealth, and as penalty foI
his neglect, should be deprived of hi:
a voice by ballot for at least twice the years