Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1873-09-11
Compulsory Educatl on.

MEsSRs. EoIToRs: The friends of bu>
man progress may we'll rejoice at the rapid
march of intelligence and civilization.
a new tra is dawning upon our country.
The public mind is becoming revolutions
ized-arouscd from the impotent lethar,
gy in which it has been slumbcring, and
the fact is becoming notable, recognized,
and proclaimed, that the doctrine of
compulsory education" must eventually
supercede our present, inefficient school
system, as an indispensable prerequisite
forTenncssee's attaining that degree ofin-
tellcctual and material prosperity to which
she is entitled by nature and immutable
equity, The redemption of our State
from the thralldom ofisnoranca caE never
be accomplished till the wisdom of our
legislators makes it obligatory upon pa
rents to educate their children. Under
the present school law, its provisions are
inadequate to the ccnsummation of this
object. Some men are controlled by q
detestable self interest, and oppose pubic
schools because they are called upon for
contributions a few are governed by q
FOOLISH pride against the social equality
of schools; while others lift their hands
in holy horror, and protest against the
public school, because it can't be directed
BY their church forgetting that there are
objects Of higher consideration than mon>
ey, pride, or even church. One is the
safety, prosperity and perpctuity of Res
publicanism. lis safety is conditioned
upon general confidence, its perpetuity
upon union of these fundamental truths,
controlled by sterling virtue. Beyond
this is another object of high eonsidcra-
tion---the child for whose benefit is all
this array of power and expenditure of
means. His claims to knowledge is a
sovereignty of demand, abstractly consid>
cred, even higher than that of the COM
munity, or State, Should his life be vi
cious and criminal, the statistics of the
State will show how it affects society. A
wound inflicted upon the body may be
healed by the restorative processes Of ma
ture, but a character once tarnished sell
dom regains its former splendor, custer
On this point the voice of history is ems
phatic. As far as the records of past
ages permit us to judge, iNfantiIe dcprau.
tty proceeded the downfall Of those
mighty States of Greece and Italy which
once gave law to the world and in this
modern age, the growing waywardncss of
the young is indicative Of national de-
basement. Then it is not prudent fer CO.
educationists to unite upon the tenets of
compulsory education, aud press their
claims vigorously upon the public mind:
and not wait ten years hence, till CUSTOM
has elevated the standard Of education to
such an extent, as tie public may see the
feasibility of such course of action.
To-day VIC are groaning under the
onerous burden of ignorance and accord
ing to statistical graduation, Tennessee
ranks foremost in point of illi.eracy,
which is most burning shame to the
character of our people.
The doctrine of compulsory cduca-
tom is not anti-Amcrican, nor oppose 1
to the genius of free government, but in
consonanco with the constituted elements
of the same, as we propose calling your
attention to in our next, in entering upon
an anal lytical exposition Of its principles
-> o. p. L.
C,oonoy;llo Co,t D 1870