Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-12-11
FOPULAR EDuCATION AND CRIME.

POPULAR EDUCATION AND CRIME.
The international Institute Of
Sociology which convened in Paris
l, was presided over by
Sir John Lubbock. His opening
address was devoted to a survey
of recent social progress in Europe
and created considerable comment.
The part which excited most at
tention in England and France
was that in which he discussed the
effect of general education upon
crime III England. Since the pas
snge of the act of 1870, providing
for primary and secondary educa-
ton, the number Of school children
in English schools has increased
from 100000 to 5000, 600; and
the number of persons in prison
has fallen from 10000 to 5000.
The yearly average of persons SEN
fenced to penal servitude for the
worst crimes has decreased from
5000 to 800, while juvenile delin-
quents and offenders have declined
from 1900 to 5000. A similar
remarkable falling off was cited in
the case of paupers, the decrease
being from AZ to % in the 1000
or over 80 per cent. These statis-
tics, cited by Sir John Lubbock,
are almost startling in their signif-
canoe. They are seemingly proofs
positive of the truth of Victor
Hugo's saying, quoted by him, that
she who opens a school closes a
prison"
His contention that general ed
ucation is the explanation of this
marked decline of criminality in
England was, however, vigorously
disputed. The Paris Temps de-
clared that the reverse was true in
France, that the opening of the
schools has filed the prisons; that
crime has greatly increased with
the extension Of education. Eng
lish papers, admitting the correct
ness of his statistics, said that he
was reasoning post ergo propter
hoe. The claim of the Temps would
seem to prove this, and if we Ac-
cept as true the claim often adj
vanced as to the effect upon the
negroes of our Southern states, of
the meager education which they
have received since their emanci-
patton, we have ano her obstacle
to accepting Sir John Lubbock's
desired deduction Nevertheless
we believe that there is a real ano
p%erceptible connection between
substantial education and the de.
crease Of crime. 1t would be deplor.
able and terribly disheartening il
there is not such a casual connec
tion. Education, as we understand
it, is not mere rote learning anc
intellectual gymnastics and acqui
%sition, but it is education of the
whole man, morally, intellectually
physically. 1t is training anC
preparation for complete living
education in industry, in the law
of society, in the rights and dutiei
of citizenship, as well as in the sci.
ences, arts and letters. Children
and youth taught from the time o
their entrance into the primary Il
the time when the university door
close behind them that harmoniou.
and progressive social life Deepen,
upon individual rectitude and in
dustry and inspired with the exam
Piles of upright teachers are no
likely to become criminals and pau
pers. Education, when it mean
this, does diminish crime and clos.
prisons.
The striking differences of Tia
result Of the spread Of education
in France and in England are Il
be explained in a great measur
blythe fact that in France educa
ton is almost entirely intellectuu
and in England moral training
and intellectual are combined wit
! intellectual. English pupils ar
not only taught how TO use thei
faculties, but tho spirit in whicI
they ought to use them in orde
70 attain 10 the highest good. Tn
agencies which in these days el
pecially AID in promoting genera
popular education z not alon
tho public schools colleges an
u~piversities, but tbe pulpit tn
press, clubs societies and organize