The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-09-14

school,, the IOe0 mas grown lOtO
reality. Compassion, in its complete
form, is an Important factor OF the
most effective schoo. sysieiDs Of Europe,
aud 10 making ats way Into Ahe slegts-
latIons Of America. .,i
Whether this be for the best, is not
our purpose to discuss. But since we
are confronted by The facts, let us
endeavor to look at compulsory educa-
ton from the standpoint Of the State:
Before any State can promise ''Liie,
liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness"
to lis citizens, it must fret be estab-
lished on permanent basis as the
highest institution OF man. The State
has, therefore, In all agesb claimed, as
lie frst right, the power to provide
for It's own perpetulty. Self preserva-
tion lie now looked upon, not as the
mere privilege, but as the first duty Of
the State. For this preservation, the
monarchy must look to the wisdom,
equity and Justice Of It's chief ruler and
counsllOrs, aud to the virtue and obe-
dience OF its subjects. But In q rcpub-
lie like ours, where all the functions OF
Rovefhment are delegated to the. citi-
zen, and citizen alone, must the State
look for it's preservation. Since the
life Of the republic is the exponent OF
the lives OF tho citizens, both must
prosper or perish together. What
ever power or glory. the State would
achieve, 1t must achieve through its
citizens. The first and highest aim OF
the Government, therefore, is to give
to its members those qualifications
which should characterize q free and
prosperous Slate. In this il realizes
self protectlon, Its first duty and highs
est good Of its scitizens-ihe ultimate
end for which 1t exists.
The problem, then, for the State 10
solve, IL this: To conirovert hetero-
geneous populsti0 into high type of
citizenship. Just how this problem is
to be solved is not left for US TO say.
It has been decided both by republic
and monarchy, that the solution must
be found In universal education. The
State, therefore, must become an eda>
Gator. We are told that, "The duty
OF the Slate 10 educate all its children
is no longer subject of discussion"
The question now is, elbow shall edu-
cation be made universal?''
It was realized by the infant colonies
that, to reach the masses, education
must be free. Hence they ordained
free libraries, free lectures, and schools
OF free tuition.
But the experience Of both Europe
and America has shown that education,
to be universal, must not only be free,
but also, compulsory. BY compulsion
is popularity meant the obligation
placed upon parents to send their
children to school, though the term also
tho obligation placed up
on communities to establish schools.
This latter form of compassion has
been adopted by the American people,
and has, for many years, been an es-
sential element of our public school
system. With this element, however,
the system still seems imperfect, mas
much as education has not been made
universal. To the end, therefore, that
our present school system may be
made more complete and effective, and
that the prime object of the State may
be more fully realized, compulsory
attendance at school is suggested. In
many of our States, indeed, the sug-
gestiou is being put into practice aud,
Judging from present indications, it is
only matter of time when compul-
sorry attendance will be as conspicuous
In the educational system OF America
as 1t is, to-day, In that Of PRUSSIA.
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