Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-04
Compulsory Filtration.

is being given to what is gnerally denomi-
mated compulsory educaliin--that is, the
proposition to compel all children to be
educated to the extent Of iur common and
free schools.
So sensitive are the American people to
every thing that has the last appearance
Of encroaching upon the freedom Of the in.
diyidual that It Is not at al surprising to
witness the opposition which aroused by
the bare statement Of the above proposition.
The first impression produced upon The
mind Of almost any one is, that 4 would BE-
an unwarrantable oncroachmont upon The
freedom Of the individual that If any ma,
feels disposed not to send bis children Il
school, ii would be inconsistent with tn
principles Of our government to interler
with the management Of his own household
But reflection brings out another side b
this question.
Under our free school system, the PROF.
erty Of the State must educate the childrn
Of the State. Individuals are compelled 0
pay tax for the support Of common schoos,
whether they send children to school or MT.
Men who educate their children abroad, lr
10 private schools-paying for the same OFT
Of their private fuuds--are compelled to ply
Just as much tax as the man who rcaps tie
greatest advantages aud the man who pgs
no tax has Just as much right aud privilege
10 the schools as the heaviest taxpayer.
Now it is not the policy Of our govern
ment to take private property for public
use without compensation. This cmpen-
sation consists in protecting his persn and
property, and in constructing such improve
ments as may enhance the value Of his
property and promote his health ard com.
fort. Now how can government b,st pro-
tect the lives and property Of its citzsns-
by laws to punish crime, or by so eduGting
all the children Of the country as in grca
measure to prevent crime2 Their, can b'
no doubt that crime is most prevalent where
the greatest ignorance prevails To illus
trate in the six New England States sever
per cent. Of the inhabitants over tie age o
ten years can neither read nor wrie, Will
eighty per cent. Of the crime in those State
is committed by this seven per cent, o
illiterate population. To state it differ
emily person in those States without ed
ucation will commit ffty-three times a
much crime as one with education. |
New York and Pennsylvania seven crime
are committed 10y the illiterate 0 one b
, those who are educated Now the ma
who is taxed for educational purposes, an
whose money is expended to support frC
schools, has a right to claim all the proteO
ton which can be afforded by the educi
2 ton Of the children Of the STATE. If nin
Q tenths Of the crimes flow from ignoranc
has not every tax payer a right to deman
, that the government shall use the none
I which it takes from him topreven Ignorance
D Aud what has been said Of crime in tn
connection is equally true Of pauperisr
The educated person is seldom a paupe
lie manages to make living for himsel
r A thousand avenues are open to him, whe
but one is open to the illiterat' person.
: Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania, statisti
show that Of the illiterate population OF
in ten are paupers, while this is true
only one in three hundred who are educate
Now, in a word, if the Government cor
pels the property-owner to pay for the ed,
cation Of the children Of other people, h
he not right to demand, in return, tn
those children shall be educated for 1
protection Of his person and property, al
also to reduce his taxation for the suppc
Of paupers and the detection, convicti
and punishment of criminals?