The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-16

THE Bennett law is nothing more than
a compulsory school law. The primary
purpose of a compulsory law is to secure
the attendance at school of children who
spend their time on the streets and to
protect children from the greed of par
ents who regard their offspring as mere
productive property. There can be no
compulsory school law framed which will
be entirely uuobjectionable. Such law
in order to be a remedy must leave no
loopholes for practical avoidance of its
provisions. For this reason those whose
procedure with respect to their children
make unnecessary the enactment of any
such law, find that technically they violate
it. The Bennett law SO carefully guards
against anything of this nature that it is
more a nullity than an oppressive law.
1t does not go far enough and this is the
only objection The Pilot has to it.
In all the public schools of the state
the teachings of English is required by
law. II compulsory law were enacted
llIdhilIS IO vi plifoeS oIhOOiS Ci1S
education which the state demands of the
public schools would be what the parent
should give and English would be includ
Sd. But the Bennett law chose to recog-
nize the parochial schools and those
which chose to exclude English at once
raised a protest. Any school which
teaches English, or pretends to teach it
is recognized as a school which meets the
requirements of the Bennett law. 1t is
only the schools which absolutely refuse
to teach English whose pupils, between
the ages of and IA, must attend some
other school or receive private instruc-
ton for II weeks in each year in the Eng
hsh language. 1t is said that no parent
will permit his children to grow up in
this country without a knowledge of
English. They cannot put you in jail
on any such charge" said lawyer to a
client who was behind the bars. But
they have done so" protested the man,
and the argument of the lawyer could not
disproye the facts. There are many peo-
pie born and raised IN this state who are
unable to speak English. There are
many people In this state, native born,
who are unable to read or write in any
language.
It is all balderdash to claim the Germans
generally are opposed to compulsory ed
ucation, or opposed to having their child
rem taught English. A few demagogues
anxious to secure position through race
prejudice attempt to make it appear the
Germans universally favor the parochial
schools and have particular love for those
which does not teach English. Some
years ago the writer was holding a series
of educational meetings throughout the
county and before speaking in the even
ing always asked what subject it was
most desirable to have discussed. In
every German community the most ur-
gent request was to speak In favor of the
public school and to advise education in
English. Will any one have the hardi-
hood to say that such people will az
tagonize a compulsory school law or
oppose a measure which provides for in
struction in English for twelve weeks in
each year
The Pilot speaks CT the Germans just
as it finds them. 1t makes no attempt at
hatteryand has criticised them as readily
as it has other nationalities when criti-
cism appeared proper. They have their
faults but one of them Is not opposition
to public schools. Some of them, as well
as those of other nationalities, fail to send
their children 10 school when it is proper
they should. They should be forced to
do so and their wiser countrymen will
approve the act. 1t is Islander upon the |
Germans to assume they will take for |
granted compulsory school law is a |
measure hostile to them. 1t is placing |
them in false position. They have al |
ways been the most earnest advocates of |
such law. 1t is possible they may be |
deceived upon the question now In issue. |
But If they are those who sowed the wind |
viii reap the whir:wind, 1t is no safe |
thing to fight the public schools in this
sttote and an apparent victory will be the |
forerunner of a crushing and lasting de- |
feat,