Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-14

Editor Gazette aud JoMudl: Although
fully sympathizing with the public spirited
efforts of the patriotic orders and the New
Centary Club to secure universal educa-
ton in Delaware, and admitting for the
most part the arguments that have been
advanced to justify legislation compelling
it, | can not give my full approval to
measures which il enacted in their present
form, IRE likely to be Ineffective.
Compulsory education is no longer a
legislative experiment. For almost 50
years law after law, designed to ensure it,
has been drafted and enacted, then revised
and repealed, until the weak points Of such
legislation are fully apparent. Twenty
seven states nave enacted compulsory
laws, and - states have more or less
failed to generally enforce them. In the
measures now under consideration, some
of these weak points have been wisely
strengthened, hut defects vet remain that
would, under present local conditions,
make the enforcement OF any law con-
tanning them improbable, il not iinpos.
sibie.
For example, take the absence Of any
penalty for neglect Oh the part of the
school commissioners of district to ap.
point "trunnt-oliicer, or for failure by
that officer to faithfully perform his duties.
1t must not he forgotten that, sprung
upon the masses, compulsory education
would be Mt least temporarily unpopular.
All its opponents w1uld not have been
convinced that it is no more "un-A meri-
can to compel citizens to send children to
school, than to compel them to pay the
school tax. Consequently all school of
hcals, many doubtless Cherishlng political
ambitious would not attempt 10 execute a
law of which many voters disapprored,
unless the district would be punished for
its lawlesshess by the forfeiture Of Il con-
siderable part of its State dividend. For
the same reason, the "truant-Ollicer," on
whom alone would'devolve the execution
of the law, should have his duties more
specifically defined, and be punished by
both fine and loss of office for failure to
faithfully perform them.
realize that the present passage of a
bill containing provisions such as have
| Just outlined is unlikely; but barren in.
deed would be the victory to the friends
of compulsory education, if bill should
be passed because it did not contain such
| provisions. II is only in localities where
years OF agitation have made enforced
school attendance popular, that such law
is Willingly enforced by men who serve
the public without receiving any financial
| COMPENSATION.
But suppose that a Compulsory Educa.
| ton law has not only been adopted, but
| fully enforced; suppose that the "truant-
| officer has gathered into our schools the
| hundreds of young outlaws now signing
for the added years that will make them u
| part of the purchusoble vote. Grant that
| all teachers are good disciplinariaus, IRON
| handed, silk-sloved and all tbat-will
can not be led by moral sliasion,
or, driven by physical force, to
submit to school discipline? VIII there
not surely be in even 1000 pupils, by force
Of law, many boys and girls whose vul-
garity. obscenity or evil personal habits
are such that under no circumstances
should they be allowed to associate with
tender youth? WceXpel such pupils now;
what can we do when we compel them To
attendP
Elsewhere the problem has been well
solved by the establishment of 'truant
hscEOuis' to which incOrrgibles can be
committed, or Ill solved By their imprison.
ment in institutions where they come in
intimate contact with those more hardened
m vice than are they. OF course neither
plan could under present conditions be
adopted in Delaware. What, then, can be
done If By special provision, incorrigi-
bic pupils were to be exempted from at
tendance, It would serve but 10 put a
premium upon characterization and re
move from educational influences th0st
who need them most. Is not "truaht,
school, now u legislative impDssiOllity,
none the less u necessity? PERHAPS phil
anthropy may become patriotic, and help
to save the future state.
III conclusion, ! would say that il has
been III no Captious spirit that have criti
cised measures with whose object | am in
loyal sympathy. 1t is US a true friend oI
compulsory education that urge, that if
law is to be passed at present, it will be
law which VIII compel officials to com.
! n # .,if l.