The Ottawa free trader., 1890-04-05
SCHOOL QUESTION.

The signal Democratic victory In
Milwaukee on Tuesday, as well as In
other important Wisconsin cities, sup
posed to be mainly attributable TO the
stand taken by the Democrats against
the so-called Bennett law" or com
pulsory education enactment OF Wis
consin, has not only drawn that law
as an active element into the politics
of that state, but for the same reasons
that are operative there, must almost
inevitably bring a similar question
into Illinois politics. The German
Lutherans and Catholics, not only OF
Wisconsin, but Of Illinois and Mis-
souri,, have at authoritative gather
ings. pronounced in the same terms
against the compulsory education laws
Of the three states named, and for the
same reasons, chief among which be-
ing the following:
The law iDterferes with the free eX-
ercise and enjoyment OF religious pro-
fession and worship.
The law, with tyrannical severity,
curtails the natural right OF parents
to direct and control the education of
their children.
The law obstructs in an arbitrary
way the free development of parochia
as well as that of all private schools.
The law clothes the public school
boards with such unchecked authority
as will legalize every act of interference
with private schools, except that OF
direct control.
The law denies to the defendant, in
suits under the law, the right of fair
trial and defense against In justice and
malice.
The law establishes dangerous
precedent for future encroachments
upon religious, and parental, educa-
tional privileges.
The law is responsible for danger
Gus element introduced into politics;
of Christian churches are
to enter the arena of politics
in the defense of their religious rights.
The law can not be rid of the charge
that it manifeSts an inimical spirit
toward private and parochal schools.
While the Wisconsin, and possibly
the Missouri law, may be open to all
these objections, that of Illinois GER
tainly is not though to most of them.
The same bodies, however, that pre-
sent these objections, freely admit
that SIN case parents neglect their
duty, the state is justified in COM
pelling them, by appropriate legisla
tion, to the discharge of their duty to
educate their children;" but it is con-
tended that the parents should "have
the right, and it is their duty, to Sc
lect such schools for the education of
their children as they are convinced
will promote the welfare of their chill
dren." And it is further cOntended
that by the plenary power vested in
the boards Of school directors in the
states named, this vital right as to the
selection of the school is denied par
ents; and such amendment of the
statutes is demanded as shall leave
this right intact.
From which it would seem that
the objectors at least admit the p'1n-
ciple of compulsory education, nor do
they object to the requirement that
part at least of the education shall be
in the English language. 1t is possi-
BILE, therefore, that the difficulty in
the case might be removed by ju-
dicious amendment of the statutes in
question without yielding the main
principle involved, and If so, such a
course is certainly desirable, for moth
ing, it seems to us, could be more un-
fortunate for our public schools than
to drag them down permanently into
the Shiny pool Of politics.