Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-04-21

changed 90 often that they and the small pu-
pil do not become sufficiently acqusinted with
each other, during the four months term, for
the school, the child Seing permitted BY IL
parents to remain in the domestic kindergar.
ten fully half Of tie time.
II We cannot have law compelling children
to attend school eight years, let us have one
compelling them to attend for . shorter peri
Cd. Have the children In school, II possible.
There are great many places besides the
school whore boys between the ages of seven
and fifteen can contract bad habits. There
are very few towns in the State of Missouri in
which boys cannot be seen during school
hours lounging about the street corners, fish
ponds, and whiskey dens; while those In the
country are allowed to scale the hills with q
pack of dogs, climb trees, and catch fox-squir-
rels. Notwithstanding these arbitrary libsr-
ties, the citizens OF the State are taxed to ed
economy.
The school system Of Prussia raLks among
the best; the secrot Of which 10 due principally
to the law of compulsion. We could have
just as good. 1t is srgued by = great many
that we are not ready for such q law now. We
are not any better prepared than we were .
few years ago. and we will not be any better
prepared ten years hence, unless law of that
character be passed to stimulate the people to
action. This law has been adopted where the
people were as little prepared for 1t as we
are. Some lived too far from the school,
house, others could not sufficiently elothe
their children to send them to school IN the
winter season. OF course, preparation must
be made, school-houses built in convenient
localities, &c. IF We sleep In seed time we
will fail to reap in harvest, and we'll perish
when winter comes" The objectiousare gen.
orally presented BY those who are indifferent
about sending to school even at the most In
viting season Of the year. The objection has
also been presented by individuals who were
sincere In what they said, but after the law
was passed they found that the demand was
not AS difficult to meet as they had anticipat-
ed; hence, when they see the benefit, they
chime In and become hearty supporters.
Children are often out Of school from one to
three days when no just cause can be given.
1t ought not to be. Where the compulsory
school law has been adopted, excuses for alb
sence are entertained when supported by Just
reasons, otherwise penalty is attached.
This objection is often made: "It is too ex-
acting to compel me to send my child to
school II don't want to-" II such an excuse
Is to be considered eoui able, think It would
be justice to the tax payer to repeal the public
school law. II 1t be too exacting to compel q
parent to send to sc1ool, when perhaps
it costs him nothing, it is too exacting to
compel men who have no children Of school
age to pay . tax to support the public schools.
A poor rule that will not work both ways.
Mr.. A. is a heavy taxpayer; his neighbor,
Mr.. B., has half-cozen children OF school
age. Is 1t right to tax Mr.. A. to school Mr..
BIS children when the latter is too Indifferent
to sendl
The citizens of the United States are called
upon to pay a large sum Of money to EXTERN
mate ignorance, and the wealthier man 10
the greater is his school tax. Then II the sum
Of money which he pays into the public school
fund does not effect the exterpation of this
dreaded enemy, Ignorance, the tax payer
feels that he has contributed to defective
institution, and does not cherish hope or
It's continuance. He reaches conclusion that
the school-tax is imposing-and he Is not
far wrong. H. 10 not right to tax men to pay
teachers to sit in the school l-house all day to
look at empty seats. 1t is neither justice to
the tax payer nor the child.
How can 1t be prohibited, when children
are permitted to stay At home for triHing ex
cuses!
BIZ LAW OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION!