The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-08-14
Communicated.
PLAIN IDEAS AGAINST C0APULSgRI
EDUCATION.

EDUCATION.
Invention is characteristic in the
talents Of almost every men,ierof the
human fam ly. Almost every persou
of life aud ingenuity is eternaIly in
venting some new project by which
he intends To benefit or curse his f.I-
low-coantrymen.
Prominent among the ideas that are
made public, are those which have a
gond intention, yet are extremely sub
verslve TO the vital interest aud well
fare Of every American citizen. 1t
was desired by our revolutionary faith
ers that the people Of Ameriet should
madly frown on any person who
would publicly present opinions, the
essence Of which was tyranny. Tie
last decade has given birth to so much
corruption and oppression that, if but
slightly nourished, they will saou
convert our happy and prosperous re-
public into an empire, kingdom. or
despotism.
COmpalsiOn, when administered by
executives to their subOrdinates, IL a
heaIthy sign Of despotism. Despots
compel their subjects to obey their
dictates under severe penalty. Com
pulsorY education is strongly allied to
this motive. 1t may be proposed un-
der philanthropie principle, but if
successful, will be subversive To the
very principle of Eiucation. A horse
can be led to the trough, but cannot
be made to drink A child can be
compelled tO attend school, but can
not be compelled olearn. Ifa child
is forced to school, il contracts a dis
like for it which is not easily subdued
his mind will be forever preiudieed
against it and his fate.
The advocates of this new project
think it advisable because the nation
has right 10 educate the people
whom 1t protects. The first inquiry
is, What is Il nation? ?' Dies il con-
sist of large tract of land, or the pen
pie who inhabit it? Certainly the
latter. In Republican nation like
ours, the people are the government.
Any distinct class of persons have
right To educate themselves; but they
have not the right tn compel unwil-
lingly large portion nf their fellow
cnnnlrymen l., .,ttenl school. II this
/ were praoiie Al, the u "Iy w"uld force
part Of itself t0 do something which
its very nature rebelleI against.
A. q striking example of the exhiI-
ar4ting effects Of G 'Inpulsory eduea.
tion,- Prussia is extrIled by the advO-
e:,tes of p,is eanse What nation
could not flJarish ua,ier such ruler
as king William ? An old man whose
curly locks are silVered by the exist
enee Of more than sixty summers, and
an experience of twenty five years in
sovereign power is sufficient tn leaf
any nation to glory and renOwn.
But Prussia is not happy nation
Oppression in its most barbarOus form
is exercised by the authorities Thou
sands after thou, ands Of her people are
leaving annually and coming t.
America where true liberty exists.
We should feel proud of being citi-
z-ns uf the American Republic.
Among all nations that exist on Gods
green earth none guarantee such sa-
cred privileges as do pare and healthy
republics. Liberty of speech, liberty
of press, choice of religions, and going
to school when desirab:r, are promi-
nent.
Then again, we ought to feel proud
that we are citizens of Ohio. Among
all tine States that comprise our CON
federation nnnn haI,A a haitian -7Ah-A.1
ed at the expense of the rich. Fine
school mansions are scattered over
our wide domain as thick rs stars in
heaven. Every person has a good
chance to become great if he will bat
apply himself diligently.
With such privileges as these who
can ask change? Admitting that
there is lack of interest manifested
on the part of our citiz -ns in common
in regard to education, yet this can
only be successfully remedied by
arousing the interest aud ambitiIn Of
parents and their children.
Let the standard of qualification be
raised, then live teachers can have
full sway and arrange the schools with
success. Quacks viii not get employ
meht, because, not qualified.
| When live teachers can ar"u+e such
attractions for the schOOl-room that
children can scarcely be kept at home
for breakfast. eompulsion is imprae-
ticable it is subversive.
In every sub-distriet there should
be graded sehools-liltle colleges.
Then, there shcnld be two rooms 10
every district school building. The
higher branches should he taught in
one; the primary branches iu tile 9TH
er. Two teachers should be employ
ed curing the winter session; one in
summer
II this was done, our farmers sons,
instead of being sent away to college,
with less expense could be educated
in the graded school at home, thereby
giving the poor chance tO educate
themselves at no expense. II this
was considered, think it would be a
wise enactment
Regarding, therefore, the privilege
of free schools the most sacred of our
country, we should look with q jeal-
Ous eye on any person who shall at
tempt to succeed in this matter, re-
garding him as the common enemy
of the Caucasian race.
A j. SPITLER-
BLOOMvILLE, Aug. 3, 1873.