Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-10-10
The Famous Republican Organization
of New York OH Unnecessary
School Legislation.
1t Registers Solemn Protest Against
Its Own Vicious Bennett
Law.
Governor Hill too Wise to Commit
Himself TO the Foolish Schemes
of Fanatics.

/
IN national affairs. 1t Is the political cuI
of such men as Chauncy Depew. In lSS.
and 1890, efforts were made to force the
Bennett kind of legislation upon tn,
people of New York In 1899 the blll was
snelked through the Legislature, but Gov
| Hill. a democrat throttled it. He was
| asked, as was Gov Hoard, to recommend
such Ieglsl >tion, but he saw the dangerous
! doctrine concealed under it. Gov. Heard
committed himself to the plan of the fana-
ties and still sticks to it. In 1890 when the
! bill again came before the New York
| legislature, it was defeated by public SEN
| tlment. One of the most telling oppon-
| ents of the scheme was the Union league
club. The details of the bill differ some
what from the Bennett law. but the princi-
pie Is identical, even 20 the English Ian
guage clause. The Union league club
adopted and circulated the following:
The committee on political reform
have had under consideration assembly
bill No 106, entitled An Act to secure to
children the benefits of an elementary
education and making an appropriation
therefor, and submit the following re-
port and resolution and recommend their
adoption.
This bill purportS to be in favor of
compulsory education and in support of
the common schools. Nothing Is more
important or desirable to the preservation
of our institutions us the universal disSem-
lnatiOn of knowledge, and, us a means TO
the end, the most vigorous support of the
public schools is needed, consistent with
individual liberty. 1t is believed that
every member of this club is stauch sup
porter of the common school system, in
common with the great body of the citi-
zenS and would do nothing to weaken
their hold upon pablo affection, or i'm
pair In anyway their usefulness.
The proposed bill is so extraordinary
in its provisions rs to require careful
and critical examination. 1t incorporates
within 1t certain principle and methods
of action that are entirely Inconsistent
with individual liberty and the Sacred
rights of the family. The bill seems to be
in some measure, a substitute for the act
passed in 1874, but with additional power
and limitations that make 1t dangerous
and vicious biz.
The first section provides that every
parent and guardian shall call all children
between the ages of Z and IL to attend
some public school in the city or school dis
trict in which such child shall reside, or
some school other than a public school in
which at least cen tam common school
branches are taught.
The second section provides that for
every neglect of the duty thus imposed
i'll the first section, the guilty person com
mltS a mlsdemeanOr and Is subject to fine
and imprisonment therefor.
The third section does provide that
child may be taught at home. but such
teaching must be teacher duly qualified
under the laws of the state or approved by
the school commissioner OF by a superin-
tendent of schools. by whatever name
known, in d city Of the state.
Section fifteen authorizes the employ
ment of town constables to aid in execut-
ing the provisions Of the act and provides
for payment of their fees.
The seventeenth section provides that
thesschoOl authorities may appoint special
officers to discharge the duties provided in
certain sections of this act, and may fix
fees or salary for the payment of the
same.
There are various other sections of the
bill that would be open to criti ism, but
the limits of this paper render their cor
sideration impossible.
THE Privacy of the Domestic Circle
The bill Inyades the privacy of the
domestic circle aud supersedes the author
ity of the parent in the education of chill
dren of tender age, and substitutes there
fore persons authorized by act of the
legislature to discharge these delicate and
important duties.
Although section three tolerates edu-
cation in the family circle 1t does not leave
h.+ 70 4ba obni,o ny,l lisora+i,,. 6 +In
parent. but provides that that teaching
shall be under the supervision and con
troll of a school commissioner or a super
intendent of schools, by whatever name
known in a city Of the state. The same
section also graciously provides that in
case a child Is taught at home the instruc-
ton in the branches specified in the bill
shall be at least equivalent to that given
in the public schools.
There Is also provision that, in case
of the physical or mental condition of
child being such as to render its attend
ance at school inexpedient or impracti
cabs. a physicians certificate may remit
the Renaity, ,r
bring all matters OF education whether in
the family circle or in public or private
superintendents or school commissioners.
The neglect of duty of educating children
according to these public officials is made
a misdemeanor
Likely to Lead to Violence.
This bill proceeds upon the theory
that the artificial and entangible body
known as the government is better
guardian Of children than those to whom
they owe their existence and that the most
ignorant and incompetent public school
teacher IN the state Is qualified to train
any young child, while the most refined,
Intelligent, virJuous and loving mother Of
that child. If for any reason she fails to
obtain the consent of the school authori-
ties is not competent for that purpose. Ii
calls Of interference between parent and
child, at precisely that tender age when
the character of the latter Is uniformed,
and when 1t Is In the most need of paren
tai guidance and teaching. An attempt
to enforce the provisions Of this bill will
be likely TO lead to violence and breaches
Of the peace.
However desirable general education
may be, II never can be desirable to in
wade the right Of parents and the sanctity
Of the family In the manner proposed By
this act, under the guise Of public in
structiOn-
The bill specifies certain fundamen-
tai subjects of education IS essential 70
ft a child as a member Of the state.
True education consists In the harmoni-
Gus and ymnetrical development Of
mind and character. and both should
proceed together as far as practicable
In most cases no one is as likely to know
the character of children a. well as
parents and only In exceptional cases
should be taken from them the absolute
night to determin what and what kind
Of education they shall receive. The
object Of the public school system Is to aid
parents Ia the education Of their children
and not 10 override the parental control OF
usurp its place. The bill reduces parents
to the humiliating position Of being
obliged to obtain the consent Of the school
authorities before they can teach their own
children, or select teachers for them at
home. and to the risk Of fine and imprison-
ment If they act without such consent.
Such legislation as this tends TO destroy
individuality and substitutes therefor state