The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-02
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
A Clear and Practical Resume OF Very
Important Matters.
Read Before the indianapolis Literary
Club by Professor j. ID. Roberts,
january 20, 1881

Eaeh biennial meeting of the General Assembly
brings with il a crop of amendments to the school
laws Of the State
Before the new has been fairly tried. even before
officers have become reasonably familiar with the
provisions OF the code. il is thrown aside like a
garment grown Questionable though its texture
NAV be still uniInpaired Laws for compulsory
attendance are In these days quite the rage. and
no wellregulated Legislature Is perfectly happy
unless Il has one or more schenes Oh sn k ai
These proposed enactments are however.
usually so hedged in by restrictions or blurred
over by bills of exceptions that attempt to en-
force them would likely prove to be very circuit
Gus and expensive road to the accomplishment Oi
nothing al all In fact they generally carry some
where in the body most effectual nuliincauon
clause.
An elaborate and apparently careiully-prepared
bill IL now before the Legislature OF this State.
entitled, "A bill protect the rights OF children,
provide uniform system OF common SchooiS'
compel the attendance of children thereat de-
timing certain duties" etc. etc. which, IL i'm
posed upon the people of this state, would in all
probability reduce the efficiency, popularity ana
attendance OF the Public schools OF the State AZ
least % per cent. within two years. II would
carry back the Common school system OF the state
what some are pleased 10 style THE original
idea"
way? The pioneer generations OF this country
were composed of men of brains and enterprise,
il is most true. They legislated and made Con-
situations for few thousand people, or III may De
"A few hundred thousand, and these scattered
through the backwoods, with but few and small
towns no railroads little commerce and little in
tercOurse with the world abroad.
They laid a good foundation. We are rearing
the superstructure.
lures, d world wide commerce, and rich mines,
which they either knew not OF or were unable TO
utilize.
We have a complex system of railways. Inter
course is rapid, easy aud constant, not only be
tween remote parts OF the State but with all the
systems grow and keep pace with civilizations and
shall we, nevertheless. bow down, with Chinese
conservatism and veneratiOn, TO the ideas OF our
fathers in regard to school systems and methods
alone? We can better judge for ourselves what
we need than the astutest man OF the last genera
ton could judge for us. We may, indeed, profit
by their wisdom and experience, and, at the same
time, do a little independent, II not vigorous,
thinking for ourselves.
Now. gentlemen. this need not be taken as a
plea for OF defense of everything connected with
our modern public school system.
This paper is not to be discussion OF that ques-
fion: but il Is not amiss
At THE OUTSET TO ESTER A PROTEST
against the assumption, too often made, that the
ideas Of our foreahers, living at another era and
in other conditions, are themselves TO be law 10
Us in regard 10 either social, political or educa-
tiOnal matters. Precedent may have fixed the
lateral boundaries of acre, and planted un-
mOvably the corner stones but, surely there is
room skyward to build Is high as we deem il safe
and wise to rear our structure.
In The discussion, therefore, of this question, /
do not propose to quote authorities and opinions.
We may draw conclusions from the success or
failure OF experiments already made.
Il is unnecessary to descant upon the fact that
meets 10 denial at least here, that I'VE must edu-
cate, we must educate, or We must perish by our
own prosperity"
This affirmation repeated and empha-
statesman, and thinkers OF the past would not
strengthen your conviction on that point Here
we stand upon the platform Of common faith:
hon 4 rtFrNT or NraN~E md
means that differences arise. That all who come
after Us shoald be wise and virtuOus is a con-
summation devoutly TO be wished. but in our
most earnest endeavOrs to reach this consumma-
ton there are many things that must give US
p use.
functions of Government. One may be styled the
''palernal theory" IL regards all citizens rs sub
jects or rather children. Government must over
see all their interests TO the minutest particulars.
It must regulate all the machinery of labor and
commerce; limit the rate of interest b. usury
fix the price OF corn and of a days work. and
the time of going TO bed; prescribe the
RRiaetnred articles; establish Churches and
dictate the doctrines that are taught in them:
provide means OF amusement; maintain strict
censorship over literature ana the press, ana IN
all possible ways see to ii that the dear people
receive no detriment
over against this theory. and in extreme con-
Irast with it.. stands the let-alOne theory. 1t
limits the functions of government, in effect, to
the suppression of crime. the protection OF per
and even 70 the attainment of these ends it al
lows the use of no means but brute force. 1T
makes the functions of government" TO use the
words of Macauley simply those of the great
hangman of the age"
The genesis Of these two opinions Is thus
stated by John Stuart MILL ION the one hand
impatient reformers. thinking it easier and
shorter 70 get possession OF the government than
of the intellects and dispositions of the public,
Stretch str T the province Of cover government
beyond due bounds; while, on the other,
mankind have been so much accustomed by
BY their rulers to inference for purposes other
than the public good, or under an erroneous con-
cepdOn of what that good requires. and so many
rash proposals are made by sincere lovers OF i'm
provement, for attempting by compulsory regula-
ton the attainment of objects which can only be
ehectually or only usefully comprised by opinion
and discussion, that there has grown up spirit
of resistance in Henine TO the interference OF Gov
eminent merely such, and disposition to
restrict its sphere Of action within the narrowes
The full development of the first theory be-
longs 20 the past 1t is the theory OF all desPot-
lSmS. In modern times, however ana IN en-
lghtened countries the current of opinion has
set strongly toward
RESTRICTING THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENTS
and nowhere is this tendency strong and SO
marked as in our own country. Nowhere
else is there so little restraint upon
individual freedom, little interference
with individual responsibility; and yet,
in very many ways of which we scarcely think or
of which perhaps we are quite unconscious, the
strong arm of the law is at work promoting our
welfare as we'll as pTOtttlulS our pclSOuo dliu
property. How much would IL cost to send let
Ter To New York by carrier or express? How
much to San Francisco? How long should We
have waited for Pacific Railway, If its cOnsiruc-
ton had depended upon unaided private enter
prise Our Government is. and has been since its
beginning. the largest landowner on the Cont
nenr What would be the condition OF society II
the possession OF these lands had been left to the
arbitranlent of bowie knives and rifles in the
hands of squatters? Government makes regula-
tons for the transfer Of property. and keeps a
record OF the transactions in real estate IL man
ufactures our currency, builds lighthouses, i'm
proves rivers and harbOrs, regulates do
nestle relationships. administers for the
interstate, fosters manufactures and industry
of every sort, for the unfortunate,
1.-THE smitten of God, and in its municipal ca
pacity furnishes free instruction to every son aud
daughter of the land.
The question now is. whether, having spread q
free banquet of knowledge, we shall go out into
the byways and hedges and compel men every
where 10 come and be filled.
Occupying middle ground between those who
hold 10 fraternal Government as IL at present
lists in most of the Nations OF the Eastern Cont
nent. ana those extreme theorists of the opposite
school who hold that we have no right to touch a
man. unless compelled in self defense to clutch
him by the throat, we right in drawing the
line OF Government interference in educational
matters just where we have drawn il, !. G.. be
tween maintaining OF Free Schools aud compelling
attendance
believe that we are wise in drawing il Just
here. Possibly the State has right 10 say
70 a father THAT son of ysurs in a
higher sense belongs to me. I am more concerned