Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-02-15
Communicated
Compulsory Education.

! Editors Of the Times:
There is much which can be said both in ia
vor of and against compulsory education, but
propose to mention briefly few reasons why
it should be introduced All of us are taxed
for he cause OF education and are given as
re ,son that beneficial results to the State are
obtained therefrom. But why compel us to
pay taxes when a great many OF th.se 1of
whom We are taxed are allowed to remain at
home and grow up in ignorance. II it is just
TO compel Us to pay taxes for the education OF
the youth, is il not as just to pass law hy
which the youth would be- compelled to receive
the benefit of such tax ,tion? 1t scenes to me
that one Of two things should be doae-tax
those only who have children. or tax all and
compel parents to send their children to school
given time during each scholastic year. Let
tav man of intelligence think seriously of this
subject and look at the community by which
he Is surrounded and note how many children
IN our good old coantv are growing up IN ig-
norance, and then let him sav--if he ctn-that
something should not he done to compel parents
10 send their children to school. In those
parts of the country where conpu SOL; educa-
ton exists we hear OF its fine working, and no
one can doubt that with US il would also prove
great b esSlng. Examine if YOU please the
criminal records of any city or county and see
of what class the most eouvicts are. Visit
rum shops aud her low hlunts Of wicked
men. and notice those YOU meet. and in all
probability a large majority will be those who
never attended school. Bg an examination
Of statistics YOU will observe that 80 per cent
Of the crime committed is done by the unedu-
Gated, which il another very strong reason why
children should be compelled to attend school.
We occasionally hear of an educated person
being guilty OF some criminal ofrnse, but
where one such occurs ~e will find twenty
committed by the uneducsted and we think
the time has now arrived when something
should be done to prevent this. When We
lock around rs aud beho children growing
in ignorance, and notice il 10 those of more
mature years, il seems that some legislation is
necessary whereby they, instead OF being the
murd-rsrs and thieves OF the country, might
become useful citizens and ornament to the
community in which they reside. 10 some
school district, Of this county may lie found
from 30 TO Is school going children, yet il Is
lmpo SSible to get d,ilv attendance Of 10
What Is the cause OF This ? know some will
at,ihuie it TO The in>ffi rirncy of the the teach
er, hut have known soae Of our be.t tearhers
10 teach those schools with the same result
The reason is simple enough when the right
one is given, and viii snd-svor to d, So
The parents of those children, being ignorant,
place rerN IIitle It any importance on eduea-
tion, aud sry or act that as they have none.
their children are entitled To no NOR than they
are. This and this slone is one Of the greatest
reasons why so manv are allowed to grow up
n ignorance. and hence the fullness OF our
l.,ls md penii"nriarirs and 50 frequent use %
the Esllows C,u snv one anub; far moment
thar II the masses we're EDUCATED that crime
woa not he greatly diminished While on
The o,her hard il ed Icaioa is no, more tho
roughly diflsed crime and vice. with wicked
ness in all its most mAIignsn, forms will in
crease Till there will he little sNf,y To life or
property. Then let Us Put our shoulders TO
the " heel. and each earnestly strive In do ali
/ in his power TO prevent This great calamity
which will sooner or later ief,U us unrss
isomeibipg is done bY "a hich children NAV b-
compelled to attend school. II j. useless tn
state that the uacduCsted man does not equal
the educ ed ~ very many important re
secss W hn ,rn,''ss'' the officer Of the Country
State and F-dsrs Whr tnen OF intelligence
aud edacaiion. aud nose but those are seld IN.
+ Il ever. found IN The lus~si kind Of Office -
With the fona wish that something may be
( speedily accomplished whereby children NAV
re compelled to attend school. and thereby
help us TO disesi Oarsslv at the oiium at
tsohrti To an ignorant community, | am very
respectfully Mac.