Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-03-20

instruction. To reach this class, the
employment Of cocrcive measures is
proposed.
We have the experience Of others to
guide US. The system has been tried
with satisfactory results in Prussia, and
other German States. Whatever may
have been the opposition against it ut
hrst, It now meets with general approx.
al. In fact, it is only in the rarest in
stances necessary to enforce the law.
In Holland; education is universal, al.
though there are no legal enactmcnts
requiring attendance at school. This
IS tho result OF tho intelligence Of the
people, and of the excellence Of the
school system. No person is allowed
to teach, even in a private school, with
out having passed an examination be-
fore the proper authorities. 1t has
been suggested that universal education
you'd result from raising the standard
Of the schools-by improved methods
OF imparting knowledge, and by greater
culture among the teachers. This has
undoubtedly had the desired effect in
Holland. Dutch, English, French and
German arc taught in the common
schools. a system of SO much excel
lence commends itself to the people,
and compulsory education is unneccs-
sary.
In our country 1t would be impossi-
bic to attain or preserve such stand
ard Of culture il the same way, because
Of the shifting nature Of our population.
It is highly desirable to improve our
methods Of teaching, and to have more
cultivated instructors; but were both
Of these attained. we still would not &C.
complish our object. Nor would the
working Of a law enforcing attendance
at school be so successful here, US in
PRUSSIA, or in almost any other coun.
try. 1t would constantly meet with
opposition from newly arrived immi-
grants, and its results could not be per-
feet, because OF the constant influx of
uneducatcd adults. But We have n
right to all the benefits which could be
derived from it.
The advantages Of culture, and the
refining tendencies Of education, do
not properly come with in the scope Of
this article. We are concerned with
the practical benefits which the State
derives from it.
1t has been found that the Ia, &c ma
jority of criminals are ignorant per.
sons. And it is not strange; for while
it is not impossible for child reared
in ignorance to be IN honest man, the
chances arc against him. Ignorance
and wee arc blood relations Educa-
ton gives selt:resrect. 1traiscs child
in his own estimation above the totally
ignorant around him. and separates
him from them in feeling, if not in
fact. AS rule. the vicious man will
not have the same influence over 4 child
If some education, as over one entirely
ignorant i; for with the improvement in
the child comes The desire to improve
more, and separation, more or less
complete, between him and the man
below him i9 mental attainmcnts. II
is to a great extent true that, in pro
portion as a government extends its
system, Of schools, it may reduce the
number Of its prisons. As measure,
then, Of prevention Of crime, compul-
sorry instruction has great advantages.
If a government is obliged to sub
NIT all political questions to the people,
it has right TO demand that the PEG,
pie shall be qualified to form an opiE.
ion on the subjects presented to them.
They must have sufficient discipline Of
mind to enable them to weigh argu-
ments, and to decide on their merits
Without these qualifications tho voter
is led by politicians, whose aims arr
generate, not the good of the country,
but their own advancement. The evils
of this arc SO continually brought to
our notice, that it is needless to enlarge
upon them.
The instruction which pupil d.
tains in public school, enables him
not only to read, and thus gain infor-
nation, but the discipline which his
mind receives makes him more compa.
tent to judge between arguments pre-
sented to him. The education which
the public schools give would not make
all men Intelligent voters, but it would
qualify large number for the exercise
Of the elective franchise, and would b.
Of great benefit to the State.
! These benefits the government may
take all lawful means to secure. Thu
enactment by the State Of law enfor
cling attendance at some school for {
certain time: would not be an undue
interference with the rights Of parents
and guardians over their children. Ev
eryone has u right to an education, and
if parents neglect their duty in thi
respect, the government may step il
and compel them to DO justice to thei
children american Etlucatioaa
Monthly.