The Republican journal., 1873-01-16
Educational Schemes.

| FlCE 10 winch the paper Is Sent.-AN
Educational Schemes.
| The discussion OF matters connected
with the education of youth, which has
| been so prominent in our State for several
| years past, has eliminated in the intro
| dnction of a bill in the Legislature. This
proposed law is intended to regulate two
branches of the subject; to provide for
compulsory attendance of children FROM
| eight to fourteen years Of AGE and to
| make uniform the text books used in all
the common schools IN the State. There
is much to be said in favor of some pro-
vision by virtue of which all the children
oil a community shall be educated. Vice
and ignorance 90 hand in hand, and a
plan which shall prevent the coming gen
eratlons from growing up in debased
ignorance, will almost certainly suppress
the vicious nclinatious which would other
| wise incite the possessors to prey upon
the community And the persons of LARGE
means with 10 children to educate. but
who contribute largely to the common
school find, would seem to have the right
to INSIST that the schools shall be made to
do their appointed work, and educate all
the children not otherwise provided for.
1t would seem to he no more nor less than
justice that so much protection should be
| accorded to those who pay for it, This is
| IN addition to the broad and lust view
which calls for universal education as
the right of all born under a free govern
ment, and us the sheet anchor of its safety
| and perpetuity. The policy of universal
education will be questioned by no INTEL
ligent person. But when the question of
enforced attendance is presented, coupled
with IN enforced uniformity of text books.
it is well to examine the matter carefully
The subject OF compulsory attendance
is not new one in this State. II has
been discussed in the Legislature, and re-
ceived the State sanction. althouoh in .
different shape from that in which il is now
presented. Chapter eleven of the Revised
Statutes of Maine contains the following
provisions
SECT. 10 Towns may make such bylaws
not repugnant to the laws of the State concern
ing hablai truantS, and children between six
anu seventeen years of age not attending school
without any regular and lawful occupation, and
growing up in ignorance, as are most c0pdu-
eve 10 their welfare and the good order Of
society; and may annex suitable penalty, not
exceeding twenty dollars, for any breach there
"i; bn said bylaws must be first approved by
q Judge OF the supreme Judicial court
SECT. IA. Such towns shall appoint at their
annual meeting, one or more persons who
alone Shall make complaint for violations of
Sad bylaws TO the magistrate having jursdic-
ton thereof by said bylaws, and execute his
judgments.
Here is the whole principle OF compul-
sorry attendance, fully expressed and care
fully guarded Why is il not all sufli
cient? The reply will probably be that
the law is imperative, because OF the
need OF a public sentiment to cause its
| execution. Then public sentiment needs
reforming, and that object is rarely reach
ed by statutes. To take this power from
| the towns and lodge il with the State, we
| fear, will draw IN its train a little army OF
| officials, with salaries to be paid from the
lreasury-al to result in no better returns
! from the expenditure than the old system
| accomplshes
| 1t IS feared bv many, and The fear il not
altogether grOundless. that the power of
! compulsory attendance with the schools
| regulated 10y the compelling power, may
come to mean compulsory opinions, politi-
cal and religious. Such u danger should
he guarded against with all possible vigil
/ lance. We speak in the interest of no
| party or sect, and ask only that the
avenues by which the influence of either
may reach the minds OF The young through
! compulsion may be closed By the mere
selection OF school books The rising gen
Grafton could be powerfully Influenced,
ana IN European governments, from which
the idea is derived, this has been done to
a great extent. There may be less danger
under popular government, but what
danger there is had best be seasonab]v
| considered
| Uniformity OF text books has also some
| strong arguments in its favor. But is
there no danger that it will trench upon
the rights OF classes of the people9 If the
serious mistake should be made of dese-
mating the Bible as text book for read
ing, as is often done, we violate the re-
lglous rights of a portion of the people
OF Mahe--small, it may be, but still en-
titled to their rights We cannot compel
Catholic or Jewish children to submit to
the teachings OF the Protestant Bible and
the New Testament without glaring vio-
lation Of the religious rights of those peo-
pie, as we'll as of the bill of rights prefixed
to the constitution In Prussia. where
enforced attendance is most rigorous, the
most careful provision is made that the
religious belief and rights of all shall not
be violated. If enforced attend ance and
uniformity Of books are to be adopted in
Maine some similar provision should be
made. But we think the brief session of
this winter will be found too short for
maturing laws of the kind. We should
much prefer to see some provision for
awakening public interest in education,
and thus securing the end by means quite
as efiectual and much less Objectionable
We notice that Capt. Dennison, late