The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-01-27
Ohe Ur.tune..
WITH SUPPLEMENTS
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


Governor Fairchild recommends in his
Message (which is alikean honor to him
self as it is to the State. he SO ably
represents to the especial considera-
ton of the Legislature the following
statement of the Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction after making liberal
allowance for the number who have pre-
yiously attended school, and for those
who are so situated that they could not
attend, there will remain more than co.
900 youth who are growing up in igno-
rance. This is more than one-eighth of
the whole school population, and about
one sixth of the number that. could rea
sonably be expected to attend school,"
And then asks whether the State, as
An organized community, is discharging
its duty in thus allowing so large portion
of its children to grow up in ignorance,
to be the future inmates of our jails and
prisons, to Scatter the seeds of vice far
and wide, to become curse to them
selve, and the most dangerous and troub-
Iesome element in society; whether it is
not our duty, to compel the parents of
these children to give them the advan-
tage Of some school system, whereby
they may be rendered fit to assume the
duties Of citizenship; whether the State
has not the right to protect itself against
evils which threaten its safety, its peace
and even it's existence? And then the
Governor answers these questions for
himselfby most emphatic recommend
ing the enactment Of such law as will
compel each child in the State, of proper
age and under ordinary circumstances, to
attend school q given number Of months
In each year fer a reasonable number Of
years.
We fully coincide with the Governor in
this recommendation, for in our opinion
the very existence of this republic de-
ponds On the maintenance of our public
free schools and the instructions thereby
scattered among the people. Such Laws
compelling the regular attendance Of
school children are as old as the establish
a1ent of public schools themselves in Ger
many, they were necessitated there by the
poverty of the common people who en-
ployed their chilren as early as possible
TO help to earn their living. Here, thank
God, there is no such necessity and only
the most ignorant and degraded parents
keep their children from obtaining an
education; there is no earthly necessity
for 1t, end only such parents can be and
actually are induced to such despicable
action by that power which has ruled and
can only continue to rule by the proven
ton Of instruction and light upon the
mind and we can do no better than
further quoting the Governor s message
where he says: -H.s
on cannot but be aware of the fact
that there is an element in this country
which is seeking to overthrow our COM
mon school system Each year it is be
coming bolder and its hostility more pro-
nounced. Those who are engaged in this
devilish assault upon the bulwarks of the
republic are not true friends to our free
institutions, and should be promptly re-
buked b. all good citizens. -
Nay we heed this timely warning and
al unite to do our best for the contin-
nance of the blessings We now enjoy, by
seeing to it that all our children without
any exception receive and enjoy an ed
ucation worthy of the happiest people
and Of the best government this world
ever has seen. -t-, -4~tes.~