St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-15
THE BENNETT LAW.

10 the Editor or the GLOBE.
If you are correct in your understanding of
the BENNETT law, then cordially indorse the
pointed criticism in your editorial in Sun
days GLOBE. 1 have not seen the law, but
had an impression the compulsory feature
only applied to public schools. Am right,
or are you right? am Republican, but not
of the puritenieal sort who believe in state
paternalism. AMERICAN.
Minneapolis, April IA.
In order that the GLOBE readers may
fully understand the justice of our
former criticism we append the follow
ing sections from the law itself:
Section l. Every parent or other person
having under his control child between the
ages of seven and fourteen years shall annu-
ally cause such child to attend some public
or private day school in the city, town or dis
trict in which he resides for a period not
less than twelve weeks IN each year, which
number of weeks shall be fixed prior to the
lst day of September i'll each year by the
board of education or board of directors of
the city, town. or 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 beginning of such period publish the
time or times of attendance in such manner
as such boards shall direct; provided tn at
such boards shall not fix such compulsory
period at more than twenty-four weeks in
each year.
Sec 2. For every neglect of such duty the
person having such control and so offending
shall forfeit to the use of the public schools
of such city. town or district sum not less
than three dollars {S3) nor more than twenty
dollars 500 and failure for each week or
portion of a week on the part of any such
person to comply with the provisions of this
act shall constitute a distinct offense.
Sec s. No school shall be regarded as a
school under this act. unless there shall be
taught therein, as part of the elementary edu
cation of children. reading. writing. arith-
metic, and United States history, in the Eng
fish language.
Sec. g. Prosecutions under this act shall
only be instituted and carried on by the
authority of such boards and shall be
brought in the name of said boards; and all
fines and penalties, when collected shall be
paid to the school treasurer of such city.
town, or district, or other officer entitled to
receive school moneys, the same to be held
and accounted for as other school moneys
received for school purposes.
The position that the GLOBE takes is
that the state has no right to dictate to
l, its citizens what shall be taught in their
private schools. Schools that are sup
ported by religious bodies and by private
| means are no more under the jurisdic-
ton of state authority than are the pull
pits. The state has as much power to
dictate to the preachers what kind Of
doctrine shall be taught from the pulpits
as it has to prescribe course OF in
struction for parochial schools.
The political pendulum has already
swang far enough in the direction of
paternalism and centralized govern
ment. 1t is time that IL should begin to
swing on the backward course. In its
opposition to the BENNETT law, the
GLOBE is simply fighting for the good
and sound principle that the state shall
mind its own business and grant to in
dividual citizens the right to attend to
theirs. The BENNETT law is barbaric
and desp0tic evidence of the Ignorant
malignancy of the Wisconsin lawmak-
ers who attempted to cOerce conscience
through the brutal power of the state
constabularY, and on that account merits
the condemnation of all liberty-loving
Americans, without regard to denomi-
national associations or political affilia-
lions.
| For what avail the pillow and sail,
Or land and life, if freedom fail?