New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-05
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.

| theory by the Senate bill OF MIR. Chad
bourn, and now comes before our people
in practical form. In thus regarding il
the example Of Prussia, where the system
has prevailed long enough to test its ex
| pediency as far as Prussians are con
cerned, is Of small service to us. What
| succeeds in an absolute monarchy may
fai! in a representative republic. Never
| theiess. as human nature IS essentially
the same under any form o: government,
| If may no. be amiss to call to mind some
Of the facts establi shed by the experience
Of Others. Professor Horthrop. an unin!'
peachabie witness. iestifes to tie fac: that
in Prussia the law compelling the attend
arce o.. the children at the public schools
IS everywhere popular with the masses.
Even the laboring class. who by 1t are de.
prived for time Of the services OF their
children, commend It heartily. They &C..
knowledge the necessity Of education for
all, and realize that the school is priv
lege. attendance he says, ''is volan-
tary. in fact. Nobody seems to thinl: OF
coercion. The law is operative. but it
executes itself. because it is right and
benefcent and commands universal ay.
prevail II IS only the !ega! expression o:
the public will"
This is the testimony OF one who admits
that he was formerly opposed to compul.
sorry education. and that his objections to
it were removed by observations made in
Germany and other countries where it
prevails, after diigent examination into
its workings and the sentiments Ct the
people with regard to it. He also testities
in the mos: uneIuiyocal manner the alb.
sence Of complaint and the prossssed ad-
m;ration o. this system are no: due. as
some have supposed, to restraint. for the
same people who commend compulsory
education bitterly denounce the arbitrary
which tears every young
maj, from his home. his friends and his
business for three years. 1.-The father"
adds Mr.. Eor:hrop. ''w!io is mos: IS.
srieyed by the army draft. lauds the
school draft"
SO much for Prussia. The question
With rs is. how would the system which !
succeeds SO wei! there DO here. These |!
Pguss;ans who receive a: the expense OF i:
government are no. expected Oh reaching !
manhood to take any share in the con-
l1c: Of tina: government: they are edu-
.a.ed thus because j: IS an acknowledged |
iac: that ignorance IS the paren. OF vice.
md that schools are less expensive than !
PRISONS. Prevention is cheaper than pun
shmenI Our youth. on the contrary.
when they come o: age. are immediately |
widowed with the pre:oeatiyeso. citizen
hip. and become pas:ake:s directly
y indirectly in the responsibilities
( government. With US i. il no:
imply . question OF the prevention or
,unishmen: Of vice: Lu: i. is the more
veigh:y one. shall vice and ignorance
,eep into high places: shall they cosgode
lie very foundations o: orr government:
or. beir. a representative government. i:
al 10: escape tie prevailing character o:
Is constituents. Tae ;cno.ance which
low prevails amen. our masses is fatal
elgacy inherited from slavery. We are
70: responsible for it. is continuance
!cu!d Ae CUl own fault. Il. therefore.
ehooycs Us 70 take every possible means.
cns:s.en: wifh the principles Of a free
oys,nment. :" Do away with it. and TO
iftuse among tie ,is!n: generation tie
sh: Of {: free liberal education. Wha: if
o:He planters &c. less work on: o: the
antilles they hire: What f some parents
'e deprived. Temporarily. O: the services
:hsi: children: Planters and parents
i'll be more than compensated fos the
fling deprivation !y the afte. good to
Re whole community. which mus: result
On the diffusion Of information amonS
e masses.
/: is simply a Question Of :en:using Oh
path new to US. bu: successfully irodden .
others. Let our legislators assume the .
sponsibility On the broad ground tia: j:
in the interes. Of public morality and
der tina. every child in the common
ealth should se. a: least a common
hool education. and tina: unless pro-
led 70, q. frs: by law. such vii! no: be Z
9 case. Such an innovation could not. 7
course. be pu: successfully into opera Il
N without considerable trouble and II
:uc dissatisfaction. The very ignorance "
be dispelled would cause this. Cor IL
lliteracy" rs has been well said, "in- II
Ives insens;bil;ty TO the evils i: engend- :!
:" and the selfshness 0: parents and "
,picyess alluded to above would be G.
listed against the law. Notw;ths.and- n
; these and other difficulties springing l.
IA the Scsuples Of conscientious and >
DID people. we trust that legislators Ii
|! pass same measure Of not the par. Ia
u'ar bill now under consideration. cal. u
lated to lift the load of ignorance. which q
V weighs down our fair State. 'e
'S- THE STATE PAY FRAUDULENT ! n
AND TAINTED" BONDS.
The Zee some days since adye-.ei to the Il,
Va