The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-29

Frurn the Memphis Aylliurhel
Not satisfied with the great results
wrought by the workings OF the common
school system in Ohio, it is now proposed
TO render education compulsory. 4 bill
ior that purpose bids fair 10 become n
law at an early day. For many wears a
good Common school education" has
been within the reach Of every child in
Ohio, yet the friends Of popular educa.
tion are not content. They have deter
mined that the school room shall not be
dodged. They propose to make Of edu.
cation drag.net, whose meshes none
shall escape. Ohio is great State. The
people are eminently practical. They know
the value and uses OF money, and they
annually vote 10 tax themselves millions
OF dollars to educate all classes. They
know that education and morality 70
hand in hand, and that Ignorance and
vice are twin sisters who constantly prey
upon the weaknesses Of society. The ex.
ample Of Ohio can not be too strongly
impressed on the people OF Southern
States.
We cannot too strongly commend to
our West Virginia Legislators the effort
now making in. Ohio to initiate compul.
sorry education in that State. "A bill to
that effect has already passed the lower
House Of the Ohio Legislature and we
trust that it will pass both branches.
We need such law in West Virginia,
The last report Of tile State Superintend-
ent Of Public Schools shows that while
there are $4,000 youth Of school age,
that is between Gtand 81, yet there is only
an average daily attendance Of 73, 900 dur
ing the school year, and only $4,000 Of
the $4,000 attend. school at any time
during the year. Probably in many of the
counties mol more than 90 per cent Of the
enrolment attend school. After making
due allowance for those who attend pri.
vAlc aud UNCONVENTIONAL schools, and
those who are over lG years Of age and
have been several years ut school, there
still remains too large per centage Of
children growing up in ignorance in our
State. This ought not TO be the case
and should not be permitted. The vast
sum OF S9sG,OOO was paid out last wear
for school purposes, Of which sill 900
was paid to teachers. Surely system so
costly as this should be made eflicaciou, 10
protect society against the curse Of ignor.
ance. We know II is said that there are
children whose parents cannot spare
them 10 gos to school; whose labor, in
other words, Is needed for the support Of
the family This is barbarouA sort OF
M argument, albeit in some very rare
cases there may be merit in il. Parents
owe duty TO children greater
thanany that children owe TO parents.
Those who invoke lives into being should
be prepared to assume tue great respopsi.
biliIies of so doing. Chief among these ia
the duty Of cnlighLcning tho minds Of
Those for whose existence they are rcspon.
'.O's, This Ia a most SoIsmn and impcra.
1--WE duty It /. intimately bound up
WIN every ebill's eternal welfare. No
parent not reduced to the verge Of star
walton can rightfnlly disregard II, and the
State should mol permit him to disregard
it. lisa melancholy fact that the On.
pidlty Of some people keep. their chill.
dren outof school. They lay The bur
'lenS OF life upon their children u. soon a.
they have physical strength enough to
bear them, aud let their minds grow IN in
weeds. We, therefore, need compulsory