Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-02-27

AUSTIN, MOWER co
Compulsory EtlueatlOn.
The report of tho Hon. Newton
Bateman, Superintendent Of Public In
s:ruction for Illinois, has created quito
furry amo"g gthe newspapers. About
all our prominent educators are taking
ground in favor Of cumpalsory cduca-
ton. Simultaneously with the appear.
ance Of Mr.. Bateman's report urging
this plan upon the public, appears that
Of the Hon. Milton Hopkins, tho lndi-
ana Superintendent, advocating the
same thing. Mr.. Hopkins: though 4
Democrat, and supposed therefore, to
BE- additionally opposed to the spread
Of intelligence, is rash enough to urge
this plan, though he must be morally
certain that it is another nail in tho
coffin of his party. The question is
not without its objectionable, rs we'll as
commsndable, features, and arguments
are not wanting, both in favor and
against it. But lot these gentlemen be
fairly heard. They advocate the pla"
Of compulsory education as measure
Of safety to the State. Ignorance is
the parent Of dspravity. The statis-
t,cs Of crime show that ! large proper
tion Of the paupers and criminals Of
the land are illitcratc, and it is reason
able to believe that thorough system
Of education would do much to lessen
their number. IF this is so, what ear
nest well-wisher Of the country can hes
itate to encourage any plan whereby
the tide Of crime and suffering can be
stayed? No one disputes that educa-
tion is blessing. Is it wrong, then,
to extend this blessing even by COM
pulsory means, until it shall be the
common possession Of all our citizens ?
The life Of the patient is sometimes
saved by forcing the healing drausht
down an unwilling throat, but should
it be sacrificed because Of scruplcs
against coercion? Mr.. Bateuan shows,
however, that the objections raised
against the system on the ground Of its
interference with the liberty Of tho
citizen is more imaginary than real.
lie says:
"lt is not proposed to drag children
to school, ~ ct arn,is, IS some seem to
imagine. That is but goblin Of the
fancy, and, like all other phantoms Of
the brain, vanishcs into thin air when
closely confronted and interrogated.
The proposed legal Incentives 70 4tteu-
dance, unfortunately Gated compulsion,
belong to the simplest aud most fauil-
lar category Of legislative provisions.
They are mildncss itself compared with
the penalties affixed to each of hun
drcd other statutes, to whicl, the people
have boon accustomed to oil their lives,
aud which, though really 81, they do
not think Of as cumpu!sory at all. 70
illustrate, Iquote the material section
Of bill, on this subject, introduced
into our Legislature last winter"
After quoting the provisions Of the
bill referred to, which simply declares
that, unless sickness or poverty inter
fore, every child between the ages of
8 and ii shall attend some school at
least twelve weeks in the year, he con-
tinues:
II cite these PORTIONS Of that bill
merely to show the utter--almost lu IL
crous-groundlessness Of the popula:
notions about the nature and extent Of
the proposed campu'siou. The c,ta:
tion has no other Importance or sisnif-
canoe, and is no matter essential to the
argument nor does the bill from which
tho extracts are taken full cmbody ny
views Of what such law should be, by
any means. But it serves we'll the
purpose Of indicating the general char
acter Of the legal pressure which it is
proposed to bring to bear upon parents
and guardians to induce them to edu-
cate their children and Of dispelling
the ridiculous fancies entertained by
the ignorant, and fostered by some who
ought to knvw better, respecting the
provisions and appliances Of cumpul-
sorry school law. Laws in relation to
school attendance, commonly compulso-
ry, are now in force in the States Of
Michigan, New Hampshire aud Con-
necticut, and in none Of them is the
compulsion, the force, anything differ.
ent from. OF more alarming than that
prescribed iu the bill from which
have quoted"
It is believed that much of the ig-
norauce Of the country is owing to the
carelessness Of parents who do not full
ly appreciate the advantages Of educa-
ton. They would only need to sec
the Importance with which the subject
is regarded by the State to freely com.
ply with the law.
We have public schools. They are
paid for by the Slate. 1t costs little
more to give instruction to all than to
the majo: ity that now take advantage
Of if. If it is free, if it is valuable,
if it is blessing to those who
give and to those who receive,
and if it is necessary to the hap
pincss, welfare, and prosperity Of the
State, there does not, after all, seem to
be such grave reasons for denouncing
it. In those States where it has been
adopted it has worked we'll, and it is
hardly necessary to add that in none
Of them is it feared that liberty is jcop-
arded by the system. We cannot re-
gard with complacency tho fact that
100000 children in the State Of Iii.
nois are growing up in ignorance, and
certainly any measure looking to the
correction Of this evil should receive
our careful and favorable consideration
Inter- Ocean.
1u-nr,s.sas
SAVINGS FOR Old AaE.-No one
denies that tits wise to make provision
for old age, but We are not at all agreed
as to the kind Of provision it is best to
lay in. Certainly We shall want lit
tic money, for destitute old man is
q sorry sight ycs save money hv all