The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-13
THE NEGLECT OF EDUCATIONAL IN
TEREsTS BY THE STATES AND THE
n ESJfI.TS. saaaI


1t is frequently asked what need is there
Of national action upon this question; are
not the States doing all that is practically
possible for the education of the children
within their respective borders? Why not
let well enough alone? These are perth
nent questions and deserve attention. In
but few of the States is there moro than
the beginning of an orderly, thorough,
comprehensive school system. The delin-
quences and shortcomings of large num-
Der of the Legislatures in this regard can
readily be shown by glance at existing
facts. In nine States, viz: Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, and Virginia, there is population of
seven millions four hundred and fifty-seven
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven,
and about fifty per cent. of these people
are unable to read.
The States of Kentucky, Tennessee and
Texas, contain a population of three
millions three hundred and seventy-six
thousand four hundred and eighty-four,
of which about one-third are una
bic TO read, and in Delaware,
Maryland and Missouri, with a population
Of two millions six hundred and thirty
thousand eight hundred and twenty-one,.
twenty-five per cent. Of the people arein
the same deplorable condition of ignorance.
Add to these numbers about a million of IL
literate persons residing in the remaining
States, and we find that there are, in the
country, between six and seven millions of
grossly ignorant people, who obtain no
knowledge of the bible, of constitutions, of
laws, of newspapers, of literature of any
kind, excepting in the manner of those who
arc born blind; eyes they have but they
see not the printed page, and books are all
sealed to them. They grope through life
In the very darkness of blindness, the ac-
knowledged prey of demagogues, perpet-
ual thorn piercing to the heart of our Re-
publican institutions.
But what are the States doing for the
children of the country? Surely they must
be educating them pretty generally, espeei-
ally throughout the North and West. Let
us see. The number of children of school
age never registered and attending no
school in Illinois, is 126,350; Indiana,
ISL ,063 Iowa, 1872 ,030; Kentucky, ZIG :
1922; Louisiana, 20f, 533 Missouri, 1884,
297 New York, 464, Obs; North Carolina,
292, s6G; Ohio, 2ss, 495; Tennessee, 224,-
155, adding to these the number of illiterate
children in the other States, and we find an
aggregate number of nearly 4,556, 300
children of suitable age to attend schools.
who have never been to school day in
their lives. In the District of Columbia
and the Territories there are about sixty
four thousand more, not including the
children of the Indians, III like ignorant
and mcared for condition. fila wea
More than five million children, one
eighth of our population shut ont Of alnaoot
every avenue Of useful knowledge. Is this
the way to treat the rising generation, to
whose care and keeping, very soon, the IN
terests of our country are to be entrusted +?
g Do we not know that the only hope of the
maintenance and perpetuation of Republic
can government depends on the education
of the masses? 1t is hardly necessary to
call attention to the unsettled condition OF
the Governments of Mexico and of those in
South America, where state Of civil war is
their normal condition, and gross ignorance
covers the land. mas
We often congratulate ourselves on our
superior intelligence and the general educa-
ton ofthe people ofomcountry but taking it
as whole, we can easily find dark corners
which are a great discredit to us.