The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-14


An exceedingly interesting paper on the
subiect Of compulsory education from the
neu of Mr.. A. @. Wright. well-known worker
for the prevention Of crime and pauperism'
wa, recently read before the National Charity
Conference at indianapolis. II is an able ar-
eument in advocacy of his position that
forced education Ia potent factor IN iessen-
ING these two grea. drawbacks to usefulness
in life.
Mr.. wright's argument is based on STATS
ties furnished by number OF reforrnatoiy H.
stitutions. showing the general youthiuiness
of criminals, and that the average age OF those
in penal confinement Is only twenty-one years,
while that of large proportion Is much less
From the mass of confrmatory figures pre-
scented it was shown that criminals are most
freouently made when children should be at
school or learning trades Hence Mr.. Wright
contends that all children should be forced to
attend school. not only that their minds
NAV be enlightened. but that they may DO oc-
cupied. as it is his belief that want of occupa-
ton equally with ignorance is responsible
for the making Of criminals.
The environments and circumstances under
which children are reared certainly have a
great deal to do in permanently moulding their
characters for good or evil, and 1t stands TO
reason that if the unfortunate waits who are
surrounded daily and hourly by intemper-
ance or other evil influences could be taken
charge of by the State and compelled to at
tend school, where they could have their
minds trained and be taught to appreciate
the enormity of crime.-which, under other
circumstances, they would soon, from familiar
ity, come to look upon without the slightest
sense of adherence or detestation-
many child might be snatched
from perdtion and made an honored
and usefnl citizen. Mr.. Wright, there
fore. proposes that children born under. and
surrounded by, malign influences shall be
adopted by the State as its wards to the ex-
tent Of giving them the occupation OF think
ing and learning and bringing them under
wholesome school discipline and restraints
He contends that through the failure Of the
State to do this il is often forced to make
these unfortunates its wards later in life, only
that then they are on its hands as inmates OF
tails and poor-houses He does not assume
that the enforced attendance of children at
school will abolish crime or pauperlsm. but
that it will certainly tend to diminish these
twin evils.
There is a great deal in this line Of argu-
ment which must appeal tot the good sense OF
our lawmakers, and which must he acknowl-
edged to be strictly true. The great objection
urged against compulsory education is that 1t
is infringing upon the liberty of parents In
forcing them to bring up their children in a
manner different from that of their own
choosing. and that it is therefore in the ma
ture Of tyranny But as no parent has night
10 ruin the future Of his child, and as after
all. civilization demands the yielding up of
many rights and liberties. which would be en-
joyed with impunity in a savage state, for
the benefit of society at large, it may be that
the time will come when the State will con-
slider it a positive duty to protect, SO far as it
NAV. children who are TO become its future
citizens. 1t is not at all unlikely that compul-
sorry education may be one Of the radical re-
forms destined to be carried out in the no
distant future