Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-07-24
Compulsory Education.
NO. VI.

Compulsory Education.
NO. VI.
There are those who have seen the
necessity of Compulsory education for
the highest good of the State, that have
been satisfied with the law passed by
our State Legislature, November 23d,
1870.
These discover no reason for a contin-
ued agitation of the subject. The act
referred to is entitled, ''An act to COM
pei children to attend school"
The first section, which contains a
gist of the whole, reads thus
If any child of good health and sound
mind, between the ages of eight and
fourteen years, SHALL during the term Of
the public school in the district in which
he resides. be an habitual truant, or be
habitually found in the streets or public
places, having no lawful occupation or
business, not attending school, and grow
ing up in ignorance. each member of the
board of civil authority in the town
where such school district is situated.
and each member of the prudential COM
mittce of such district, and each sheriff,
deputy sheriff, or constable in such town
is hereby authorized. and it is made his
duty, upon application in writing of any
three legal voters of said district to ar
rest such child and take him to the
school in said district, and place him in
charge of the teacher thereof and the
officer making such arrest Suall there
upon Give notice in writingtothcpqrent
guardian. or master of such child and
shall therein REQUIRE such parcut. ouar-
dian. or master TO cause such child to
attend school regularly.
The first impression made bv the read
inc of this section is a very rood one
if seems at first sfuht to meet fully tbr
ouestion of the n0n-attcuIancc at school
of so many Of our youth. But a second
thought shows the impression to br rr-
roneous.
This enactment aims. indeed, in the
right direction. And, if enforced. would
reach a very imnortant class of youth.
nprIecting the schools. and would. doubt
less. do much rood.
But il can reach only part of large
number needing lust such legal sua-
sion.
There are hundreds of children of
school age, even in our own State, that
cannot be classed as "habitual truants, ."
or "bahitualIv found in the streets. or
public places, having no lawful occupa-
ton, or business. but are still growing
uD in ignorance. and, when the age OF
majority arrives. will be totally unfit for
the grave responsibilities of American
freemen.
Some of these attend no school at all.
growing up like the wild men of the
plain, while others are taught in sccta-
rian schools where principles and prac-
tices prevail that accord better with the
dark ages. than with the present in a free
republic.
Is il unreasOnabletO to demand that those
who are to become the future citizens of
our country. and control its destiny.
should be educated IN the public schools
of the land-in the schools that are iden-
tilted with the entire history and pros
peritv of the country. and in which the
past generation of freemen have success
fully trained for their civic duties?
What institutions should be allowed to
mould the character of the future Amer
lean? Those that have been transplant
ed from the old hot-beds of despotic Eu-
rome. or those that are indigenous to this
soil. and have made America what
she is?
What is the conviction of common
sense on this question? What are the
lessons of history?
no thew NOT both force us To tbe con-
clusion that American citizens should be
educated in American schools
Rut This can never he secured without
comnulsorv enactments. recurring the
children ~0f the State to attend the
schools Of the State. there to receive
sncb nhvsicaI. mental and moral training
as shall make them useful. hanDv and
laU-alidino citizens,
There are others. again. who urce the
abandonment of this subject. or at least
its nostponement, because we have no
exnerience to quide us in the steps to be
tolEen or in the results to he eynected
II 10 to he confessed that +bis kind Of
1;ob+ ie not very abundant for the cold
en- age Of GENERAL education has NOT vet
daw9ed mon the world
Rut there is one country. Mt least that
is MAKING the exneriment of compulsory
odncatio1 and tbns fer with the most
orotifUing roen1te and tbat is Prnssia
II "a q well known fact that Prussia
has made the most rapid strides IN every
form of material progress within the
loot faw wears She is now the foremost
,,oUer of oil Enrone She excels in
pGre, pp,ii;tarn ,,rogoee in industrial nurs1its
in General intelli6ence. and sound NOR
Liz Andit i Relieved that tbis great
,,,.os ,,n1s,,or;tp io Ioroeiv dne to bertborongb
pr05ln'} auStan, ~ cononi1leorv edrcation, Fverv
cbild iI9 is trained to industrial mental and
iiit' militarv ~ n1irs11its in the urinary schools