The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-11-26
Compulsory Education.

Those who Dclleve that the compulsory
education of all classes of our population
is of vital Importance for the future sta
bility and success of our Government
have the pleasure of knowing that their
views are strongly endorsed by most COM
petent authority-A. J. Mundella, Esq, of
Sheffield, England. This gentleman, who
is also member of Parliament, is at home
a leader in all that pertains to advancing
the interests of the working classes, and
has recently given considerable attention
to the subject of popular education in our
cities. He has embodied the result of his
examinations in letter which will appear
in the next report of the Commissioner of
Education. AS this letter, however, has
been made public before its official appear
ance it is interesting to be able to glance
at our educational system through the spec
tacles of this accurate and disinterested
observer.
Mr. Mundella says he can congratulate
us without reserve on having the best and
most commodious school houses in the
world, surprising in this respect anything
in Europe. He also finds our normal
schools excellent, and the attainments of
our teachers, especially of the female teach
ers, to use his own words, "beyond any
thing could have expected, and far beyond
is flattering to or pride to hear such strong
words from all Englishman, but we do not
believe them stronger than warranted by
the facts in our better-class of schools, at
least. We are not now speaking Of our
colleges and universities, but of our ele-
mentary, grammar, high and normal
schools, for it is upon these we must prin-
cipally rely for the instruction of the masses
of the people. But while Mr.. Mundella
considers the mun;ficence of the American
people in the sections he has visited unpar-
alleled in providing schools, he does not
find that all are as ready to avail them
selves of these advantages as the Boards of
Education have been prompt in providing
them. He says that experience has taught
him "that where the education of children
is wholly dependent upon the parents, the
selfishness, indifference, or Incorporate
habits of many will cause considerable
number to be entirely neglected or only
partially educated He could not better
have described the state of things with US
wherever there has been no compulsory
power to enforce the education of children.
Those whose parents are thrifty, sober, and
industrious are sent to school for a period
at least, while the offspring of the deranged
and Incorporate grow up in ignorance,
fitted only to act as drags on the progress
of the community.
If in monarchial Russia it is found advis-
able for the Government to oblige every
child to attend school between the ages of
seven and fourteen, how much more
important is it in a republic like ours =
Only last..week, the people in a number of
States chose their governors, representa-
tives in Congress, and many other minor
officials, and yet thousands of those who
voted at that election were unable to sign
their own names, much less to read those
ON the ballots they cast. No country is
safe in the hands of rulers who have not at
least had the advantage of an elementary
education. The French who voted i'll favor
of Napoleon in May are ready to denounce
him to-day, and to go heart and soul for a
republic, and yet who shall dare predict
what the Reds of Paris or the Communes
may not be willing to advocate to -morrow?
They can, as a people, be led about like
sheep by few unprincipled leaders. With
us, fortunately, although the ignorant
masses are simply liable to be led astray,
there is still intelligence enough in the
country at large to prevent permanent dam.
age to our institutions. 1t is not safe,
however, to leave this matter of education
to the option of individuals-the State has
vital interest in the intelligence of its
citizens. Under the direction of Henry
Barnard, Horace Mann, and other promi
nent educators, much has been done in this
direction, but the work is not half accom-
plished so long as there is no power tC
compel the sending of children to school
In the hands of Intelligent voters, the
affairs of the Republic are safe; but if
government be given over to the unedu
Gated and illiterate, we shall soon have {
dictator, or descend to the still lower depth:
of unbridled mob rule.-Hearth and Home