The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-13
LAWS ON EDUCATION.
Discussion of Measures Pending
Before the Legislature.
TO FORBID CHILD LABOR.
Advantages of Public school Libraries
No Legislation Better Than
Dead-Letter Laws.
SEATTLE. Feb. l2. 1891.

SEATTLE, Feb. IL. 1891.
To THE EDITOR: We have at hand sew
eral educational bills now in process of
enactment. The one referring to disor-
DERBY juveniles seems TO be necessary
measure for the large class of boys in cities
who are apparently out of control of both
the home and the law. Seattle is in need
Of such law. But there is need of much
more than this. If a property-owner is
compelled to pay tax to educate his neigh
boris child, the child ought to be compelled
10 attend school, though he be child or
DERBY and respectful in conduct. Much is
said nowadays of "child labor" and IL
literacy Many children are forced into
bootblacking, paper selling, messenger
service, into mines aud factories, who
should be sent to school. To this class of
children, who have no possible way of OBJ
tanning an education, whose moral nature
is soiled in early youth by contact with
the most vile and loathsome habits of the
deprayed, whose early training is to de-
termine life of usefulness or life bur-
densome TO society; to this class our legis-
iature should bring assistance.
A reform bill is all right, so far as il goes,
but it reaches only those who least desire
assistance. A good truancy law, aiming
at the education of every child regardless
Of all other questions, will solve the ques-
lions OF reform schools, child labor, and
llliteracy. AN ounce of prevention is
better than pound of cure"
In Sunday paper was an account of the
schoolmasters' Club, which met in Ia
coma last Saturday. These representative
school men quite decidedly approved of a
sruancy law touching upon the above
named features. and even went so far as to
request Superintendent f. j. Barnard to
draw up bill. This he has done, and the
same has been introduced IN the Senate by
Senator Frink. Ii should be passed.
Another bill now before the legislature
is one authorizing school districts TO form
public school libraries. The motive
prompting this measure is evidently OF
The highest kind. A library in every school
district of the state will do a great good in
giving us an educated citizenship. The
arst section OF the library bill provides for
an election to vote the purchase of this
library. 1t is evidently the intention oi
The author of the bill TO give the power 70
The people, which Is principle scarcely
iebatable. But Is il not asking cities and
towns, varying from 6oo To eo,ooo inhab-
tants, TO hold special election in
order 10 purchase library The
annual expenditure of district Is limited
TO 500. The cost of an election is much
greater than this. Ii seems extremely
anwise to require waste of 500 TO secure
The privilege of using $40.
1t Is obvious that the intention 10 pre-
serve the peoples purse and power has
handicapped them by necessitating the ex
pense OF AN election or doing without 3
library. This condition does not affect
many country districts bat it docs materi
ally interfere with the majority of district.
Who are most solicitoas for library bill
We read in section 8 of this bill that il
shall be the duty Of the superintendent ot
public instruction 20 recommend such
sooks and journals as he may deem most
suitable for school district libraries. Thi: