The Portland daily press., 1890-10-18
The Bennett Law.

A correspondent asks the PRESS to pub.
lish the full text of the Bennett school law
which is making the leading issue in the
Wisconsin campaign. The law Is quite volu-
mlnous and large part of 1t is taken up
with details of no special Importance. The
gist Of 1t Is contained In the first and fifth
sections which are as follows:
SECTION !. Every parent or other person hay-
ing under his control child between the ages of
seven and fourteen years. shall annually cause
such child to attend some public or private day
resides for period Of not less than twelve weeks
In each year, which number of weeks shall be
nseo PTl4tF 70 inc rss gay Of september IN each
tors OF the city, town district and for portion
or portions thereof TO be so fixed by such boards
the attendance shall be consecutive, and such
boards shall at least ten days prior TO the begin
ming OF such period, publish the time or times of
.atsenaance IN s1c9 IN manner as suen boards shall
such compulsory period at more than twenty-four
weeks In each year.
school under this act, unless there shall be taught
therein, as part OF the elementary education of
children, reading, writing. arl hmetic and United
states history, In the English language.
The only essential difference between this
law and the law of Maine relates to
one point, and there is room for argu-
ment as TO whether any essential differ
ence exists even in regard to that
point. Our law prescrbes that the instrue.
tion received in the private school must be
equal" to that given in the public school
The Wisconsin law is more definite, mas
much as 1t specifies certain branches that
must be taught in the private schools and
the language in which the instruction shall
be given. There is room for some difference
OF opinion perhaps as to what would consti-
tute instruction ''equap' to that given in our
public schools. AS reading, writing. arith-
metlc aud United States history are all
taught in our public schools, probably no
body would contend that a private school
which omitted instruction in any or all
these branches was furnishing education
'equap to that of the public schools. There
might be more ground for disagreement as
to whether private school which taught all
these branches, but did not teach them in the
English language, was fulfilling the condi-
lions of the statute. But we are inclined to
think that If the question were submitted to
the court 1t would decide that the teaching
OF these branches in the English language
was essential to a full compliance with the
statute. In our opinion the school officials
oil Maine would be upheld If they decided
that child OF the school age who had dur
Ing the year attended private school where
instruction In the branches taught in the
public schools was given, but not in the Eng
lish language, and nothing else. had no.
complied with our statute which declares
that child must either attend the puh,ic
schools certain number Of weeks in the
year. or private school in which instruc-
tion the equal OF that furnished in public
schools is given.
The objections urged against the Wiscon-
p icable to the Maine law are two in num-
Der. A few communities made up entirely
OF foreigners object to it because it make
the teaching of the English language conf
pusory. But this objection is comparative
ly Insignificant. The chief objection lies In
the fact that the law undertakes to control
to some extent the character of the education
of the youth of Wisconsin. This the Roman
Catholics, or at least their priesthood, and
the German Lutherans contend is an inter-
ference by the State in something that the
state has no right to NEEDLE with. These
Two denominations contend that the educa-
LION Oh chlidren belongs entirely to the parent
and that the state has no right to interfere
except possibly to prevent an absolutely
vicious education. If the parent sees fit to
confine the instruction of his child to the
uerman language or to the French language
Is none OF the States business these demon
NATIONS contend, and any interference on
tne part OF the State is Legitimate. Becanse
the State does interfere by under,atino ~
prescribe In what language the child IT,
taught is the chief ground Of the 1naa, 20
to the Bennett law. 1t is evident ~. .vl
same objection lies to our Maine statute s, sno
that undertakes to regulate the education " 20
children lnasmuch as 1t prescrlbes thu, 81
they are not instructed in the States school,