The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-03-27
educational
Compulsory Education.

"Our Government is of the people, for
the people, and by the people" No
subject can be presented to the people
for their consideration more important
than the education of the youth. With
intelligent voters, 1t is the best yet de-
vised: but with ignorant voters, it is
one of the worst. An intelligent people
seek freedom. and an ignorant one des-
potism. The founders of our free insti-
buttons saw this, and scarcely had they
completed their log-cobins when they
began the !og schOol-houSe for the school
and schuol-mlstcr; and to-day we find
or schools the nursery of American
citizens. Sclt.prescrvation imposes
upon our Government the duty of edu-
eating the people sufficiently to qualify
them TO exercise in%telligently the right
of suffrage. Conscious of this, every
free State established II system of free
schools. So great has been their influ-
enc upon the people that the prosper
itv, intellectual amt moral endowment,
respect for law may be measured by the
condition of the tree public-schools. The
American durtsine is that 1.-THE property
of the State shall educate the children
of the State This benefits equally the
rich and the poor. 1t decreases crime,
reduces taxes, improves labor. increases
the value of property and elevatcs the
whole community. One of the first
questions asked in seeking Il permanent
location for ones family is: What
arc the means provided for educati, -
4 State. Il town. or village. with good
free schools, is the resort of families:
without them it is the home terminals.
And the taxpayers who furnish the
money to educate the people have Il
right to require that all shall be edu-
Gated in ORDER that crime and paupcri>m.
and the public burdens may he reduced
aud the ballot welded by IN intelligent
people. The ballot in the hands OF Il
corrupt and ignorant ~populace is the
torch of the political i~ncendiary: but
with III Intelligent people is the bull
wark Of liberty. 1t costs far less Il pre-
vent crime, pauperism and civil cummo-
ton by educating the whole people than
it does TO punish criminals, supper; pau
per>, maintain armies to suppress an
ignorant population. The class most
in need of school training seldom attend
school at all-thosc whose parents,
through Ignorance, poverty. avaricc or
crime, give them little or no home edu-
cation. This class can ,nly be reached
by 4 rigid compulsory school law. Every
other remedy has been tried without
effect. BY iudicious law. firmly, but
kindly. enforced. compelling attendance
at school during school hours ut some
school. the streets of our larger cities
would be cleared of the thousands ol
youthful vagrauts from whose ranks
low army of criminals are almost
entirely recruited; and the street, of
"f our smaller towns would be rid
oi some whose manners and p~ulitcncSs
are not of the lest quality. Such Il law.
in Il single generation. would work al
intellectual reformation and TcTrncIa
ti"n of our criminal and pauper CLASSES,
afd SAVE millions of money in the de-
paI1ments OF police, charities. and cor
Ircilpu, and largely increase the wealth,
influence and producing powers of the
State. Wherever compulsory attend
IN have been tried long enough to de-
tcrminc lis effect. the result has been So
satisfactory that it has become Il fixed
and settled policy. Prussia and Germany
testify 10 its excellence. 1t is in h,r-
mony with the true spirit OF a Demo
cratic Republic to require every citizen
To qualify Iiim,clfior the right OF suffrage
and for earning an Independent living;
aud if We had "A compulsory school law
in the State OF Missouri. instead of our
State prison being full and overlooking
with criminals, their numbers would de-
crease Ia such an extent that contracts
would a te so profitable in regard u.
IT. hope that we may soon be privi-
lcgeI to reap the effects of such Il law.
j. VI. W.
Fr,-