The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-02-13

An elaborate project for compulsory
primary education Is NOW before the privy
council at 81. Petersburg. The projected
law viii make attendance ut school S3m-
pplsory for all children from seven 10
eleven years old, provided there be COM
mon school within two miles Of fhcir
houses, But for the rural population the
number OF school months kept In the year
need not exceed seven, while in an town
districts Il must number ten. Fines are
70 be inflicted on the parents for absences,
but not in any case 70 exceed two days
wages Of workingman. Christmas day,
Twelfth day, Lady day, Good Friday, and
the week following Easter, are to be the
only recognized holidays during the school
months.
There is already in Germany, as Is well
known, compulsory law, and out Of 40
100000 Germans, 100000 children 70
TO school constantly. In Germany the
argument for the system OF enforced school
attendance, as summed up by contempt.
rary, Is in substance this .--A snan with
education is worth very much more to
himself and to the state than If he were
without it. 1t u, therefore, best for him
self and the state that he should be taught.
ine NnoSieoge nc can gam during child
noou Is AIS eapiIai IN future ilfe. IL Is
ialceny % take TINS away from him- A
parent who refuses to send his child 10
school plays the part Of trustee who
appr0priates the trust-funds he holds. He
may therefore be rightfully compelled "a
s.se 'ns Delngs wnom ne mas Drought into
''ie worio enance te keep their future
Issources u intact y ne prefers 70 send
,r,' .nem 70 a private sehooi, won and good.
ins s'ase insists on'y that every child
s,iah 81 nave = certain amount oi instruction
~ ~ n,"Aes no ulIsrence Mhere nc gets H.
u 'ne parent pleads poverty as an excuse
ior no' senulhg ms cnnu 70 school, the
s'a'e points 20 the open doors Of the
sehoo,s " Prosiues anu supports, ana tells
nim .na' ne neeu pay nothing ior the
,ralh.ns n,s ppy q s'rl wni get there
Aa,on 40, .he supper, oi these lree
senools - ueienuea on tne ground that
'ne creates. goou 2. 'he greatest number,
y wen a. 'ne weiafe o. tne nation, de-
minus 'nAs ihs'fue''on snou'o De uniyer-
s"'
a nePuDliesh contemporary declares
lnat TINS = GOOD logic, ana that no com
MUMMY "hicn re,'s On universal sunngee
osn ious eAlss uhisss y eniorces universal
eauch''on: Due now does TINS apply 70
uermany mere eoucasion = enforced
s eyeryleing eise 7 enforced, and II IS
iounu Periec.y consistent Win an absolute
anu niosArcnica' ., government ana the most
o"e,iul :,, ns nsl'a,y o'saul1s',oa y 'ne wofia.
wni haiely pe pte.ehueo 'hat 1ermany
.ss's on universal sahisse, nor mat wnen
- eaioi0es uul,eisai .n e,uea'ion ,nat u m
.eaas . nase sne people iree. Inc truth
.na' .ne herman ru'crs' seeing tnat Tue
'niis. ,or know'eege among the people
~oalu - g's.lhea u some way teok tne
mater in'o ~ own hanus ana educated
Tue cai'ofen 10 accofdance with monarch
loai lucas, m anu ! TOT i's own service ana pur-
poscs: me uermah argument deiends
.sAa'ion TOT ,he support OF ner schools on
Ine ground ina. Ihe greatest good Of the
grea'es. NUMBER, % wen as the Welfare Of
,he na1ion, oenianus tnas instruction should
pe universal. an impe,iai government is
~nas .ne oer,1an rulers consider the
greatest goou' ana essential 70 the
weiiare Oh tne nat'on. 30 tnat u seems
euucasion may De 80 perverted as % be-
come power ~ support 81 aespotism as
wen as OF nepunicanism higntiy de-
nnea' eouca''on, sne harmonious develop
neht oi .he ineeneoeuai aud moral nature
u man y one u 'ne greates. blessings
'nat can De conferred upon individuals or
people. Dut u does not su1 the genius
OF our country or us citizens to enforce
education any more than religion. The
argument that a man y worth more 70
himself and to tho state II with education
than without u, and that Therefore he
must De seized and educated, might be
made TO apply TO various other things.
intemperance renders 2 man worse than
useless 70 ms family and society. Must
the state therefore lay bands upon him
and put him where ne can DO no harm
Extrasagance damages an individual and
the community. ldieness is bane 70 the
arones ana % the working bees. 80 o.
atheistie and llccntious courses. Must the
state step IN and BY sheer force regulate
ahthese thingss Hitherto our free schools
iree ~ every sense o. inc word free % be