Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-06

States Commissioner Of Education, that on
an average the ability to read and write adds
at least twenty-five per cent. to the product
iveness Of the rudest manual labor, so that if
our illiterate adult males were able to read
and write they would earn at least one quar-
ter more than they now do. Taking this the
ory as correct, the l,554,93l adult males,
shown by the census return to be incapable Of
reading or writing, if they should but add to
their intelligence the capacity TO read and
write, would add annually to the production
of the country more than Sll6,6l2, 425, COM
putting at only twenty-fi cents per days la
Dor. This sum rs nearly double the whole
amount annually paid out for public school
instruction in the whole country. The in
creased earnings in Alabama would be more
than 81. 900, 900, or nearly sixteen times the
amount paid for education there; in Arkan.
sas nearly 50 100000 or more than fourteen
times what is paid for education there; in
Florida, more than 81, 100000 or more than
forty times what is there so paid; in Connec-
ticut 1921 1915, or more than half their
present expenditure for education; in Massa.
chusetts, $780, $50, or about two-thirds Of
their annual expenditure for public schools;
and in New Hampshire 1884 ,92o, or more
than three-fourths Of our annual educational
expenses. But Commissioner Eaton, to
the further fact as the result of his investiga
tor, that such an advance in education as
gives man sufficient ability not merely to
read and write, but TO manage business for
himself or supervise the business of others,
| adds from So to IS per cent. to his capacity
| for earning money; making IL Go per cent
only. then If all our adult males were educat.
ed up to that standard, their increased earn
ings would annually exceed S3l 900, 900,
nearly five times the total amount expended
for public school education in the entire
Union!
As pure matter Of money making, there
fore, aside from all considerations OF strictly
moral and political character. the universal
imperatively demanded. We have al excel
lent law upon our statute book, designed to
meet the requirements of this great question,
and y hich if enforced would secure 20 every
child in the State, Of school-age. at least the
rudiments of good education. Blu. is that
law enforced? Are there not, in all our
large towns and cities, multitudes Of children
of both sexes, growing up in complete ignor-
ance, through the failure Of the proper au
thorities to enforce the provisions of the stat
ute of 1871, compelling every child to attend
the public school Of his district, for certain
portion Of every year, unless instructed in q
private school OF IL nome LOT an equIVaieht
period, or prevented from attendance by ply
steal or mental incapacity? We make the in
quiry in all sincerity. for we solemnly believe
there is most gross neglect of duty upon this
subject: Let the friends of education see to
it, that those whose duty it is to enforce this
most important law, do not neglect it. The
law itself provides penalty for such neglect
and if the authorities can be induced to dis
charge their duties in ne other way, let that
penalty be enforced. The interests Of tbs
children themselves and CT the whole conmu-
nifty imperiously require that brute gnor-
anca be utterly hanished from the State, in
reapec! to the rising native born generation