New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-21
cOMPULsORT EDUCATION.

IN to-day's issue of yonr newspaper Won
say that you are opposed to compulsory
education. The Picayne, Times, Crescent.
Bee, German Gazette, and the other Demo
cratic journals Of this city have taken the
lead of you in expressing their opposition
to this principle of the proposed school
system which is now under consideration
by the General Assembly.
The latter journals have run headlong
into an unjust and nnwarranted abuse Of
this and other features of the bill. Each
attack has been made from purely parti-
IAN standpoint, and in the most Illogical
manner
That the German Gazette should seem 10
condemn the proposition relating to COM
pulsory education is the most astonishing
of all because, if mistake not, the edit
ors and proprietOrs of that journal are
gentlemen whose acquaintance with the
good effects Of the same principles in por-
tons of Germany, should incline them to
hail with Joy its Introduction and enforce
ment n the young country Of their adop-
ton.
That the Tines, Crescent, Picapne, and
Bee should oppose 1t is not so strange, be-
cause the experiences Of their editors have
taught them no better. regard the oppo
silion of the REPUBLICAN as a matter Of as
great surprise as thai OF the German Gazette.
With you the question must be merely one
OF political eypediency, while with the
tTGzetie II is probably one Of material sup
port, for it would seem as if there is q dis
position with many in this city to believe
that approval Of any measure that would
originate with Radical is enough to CON
sign the approving individual to social os-
tracism and business rnin. Germans, with
all their predisposition in favor Of universal
education, are hardly able to Withstand
the torrent of opprobrium which is certain
to be launched against any great measure
OF public policy, having its origin in the
brain Of Republican, especially if the
measure be one calculated to benefit all
classes, white, black, rich and poor alike.
There is in the city an insignificant paper
known as the German Press, which, though
edited by Germans, seems TO have so far
forgotten the great benefits of public edu-
cation in Germany as TO be blind to the in
portance of those benefits in this country.
Perhaps this can be accounted for only n
its slaVish devotion to the Democratic
party.
These papers have all opposed the school
bill now before the Legislature. They
have done so more because OF -he feature
concerning compulsory education than any
other. This feature Is, in my Judgment.
the best in the whole bill, for by its opera
ton every child in the State viii be able |
to read and write in few years, whereas |
without It large per centage Of our |
educable youth will be allowed, as here |
totore, to grow up in ignorance and crime, |
and perhaps finally 10 find Judgment u |
jail or in the poorhOuse. This compulsory |
has already been tested in Yari- |
Gus States Of this Union and in some for |
eign countries. The results have been so |
that the principle is still ad- |
hered to in those States and countries. |
The idea of Selling and incarcerating all |
children who do not attend public schools |
IS one that the bill does not embrace.
It simply seeks the education OF ALL for |
the good Of all. 1t matters not how edu-
cation shall De impaired. The means NAV |
be, those p divided by the State in its public |
schools, or they may be those employed |
by private parties, in private schools or by |
private lessons. But ii children are en- |
tirely neglected by parents or guardians;
If they are found growing up constant |
menace to the peace aud good order of
society; if they are being constantly
Trained in vice and crime, then ] claim that
the State should, from motives of humanity
and public safety, take them into lis own
hands, educate, correct, and protect them.
Some argue that parent has the right
to educate his child, or to allow him to
grow mp in ignorance, if he peases. That
40 parent has any such right cannot be
questioned by any sensible man. But, ad-
hitting for the sake of argument, that the
parent has that right or privilege; nav it
not be asked! Has not the child some
lights also ?" That it is q right Of the
child to receive an education, before enter
ng upon the battle of life, will be ad-
nitted by al rightminded persons.
The State may rigbtfully insist upon the
of its youth, and use force to do
10 if necessary. What better safeguard
AN you have for peace, union, harmony,
md prosperity than that Of public educa-
ION! The child Of to-day will be voter
q tWenty-One years or less. Imagine the
existence ola large class of citizens in
ny State who are unable to read the
James OF candidates for whom they are
sked to vote! Imagine this as the direct
esult of allowing som parents to bring
lp their children to mature years without
having them so much as able to read and
write At present it is bad enough to
witness large class Of citizens whose ig-
lOrance is not the result of any neglect
u their parents, but is the direct frun of
he worst form of legalized oppression
hat ever sprung from any people. That
We should now provide by law for the
compulsory education of such as ere likely
0 be brought up in ignorance tif their
PARENTS are allowed their own way) is, it
Gems to ne, the very clearest Of public
iuties. % -
Formerly large class were compelled
0 De ignorant. In future there will be a
arge class who should be compelled to be
,,ducated. There are nearly hundred
honsand voters in this State now who are
,niiering from the ignorance forced upon
hem In former years. / claim that we
mould now begin the good work of edu-
ating everybody. 30 that in the future
very voter will be man Of education.
Who can be injured by it? No one.
fho will be benefited by it'll Everybody.
'erhaps ! can no better illustrate lie wis
ON Of compulsory system Of education :
ban by quoting the following information !
ON the Piecyune of this morning: The :
lty IL infested by scores of juvenile thieves.
lady do but drop her handkerchief OF
N, It is more than probable some little
camp grasps the same, and is rushing
ound the nearest corner before she Is
ware of her loss, The article from which
quote winds mp as follows: We have =
ark cells where rogues of all colors NAV | 4
Q Kept out Of harms-way. Can not the