The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-11
Compulsory Education.

We learn with surprise from the
Scranton Truth that certain shallow"
"cranks," who. among other things, are
guilty of "coYardice" and 'impudence,"
are, by the use of absurd" arguments,
urging the Pennsylvania legislat ture to
pass "pestiferous," obnoxious" "un-
American" and "narrow-minded' bill
discriminating against poor families
and widows who are supported by the
labor of their growing boys Our con-
temporary thus refers, if we interpret
its words correctly to the Farr compul-
sorry education bill concerning which it
also says:
If some Of the compulsory education
schemes now before the house at Harris
burg should by any misfortune become
law, the increase in schoo-building would
have to be supplemented with an increase
in poorhouse building for the accommoda-
tion of fathers who have been crippled
for life in the mines trying to support
their little ones; widows who have lost
their husbands at the same perilous call
ing, and younger children who are sup
ported by their sturdy brothers
We take no stock in the absurd argument
advanced by the shallow advocates of
compulsory education. Their assumption
is as impudent as their logic is lame
and if their policy should prevail it will
soon be time to revive the curfew law
and start q thumb-screW factory
Before replying to the Scranton
Truth we wish to present an abstract
of the Farr bill. That measure provides
that those having control of child or
Ghildren-parent, guardian, or other
person-between the ages of and II
years shall be required, unless excused
by the school board for mental, physi-
cal or other causes, to send such child
Or children at least sixteen weeks each
year to a school-public, private or
parochial-in which the common Eng
lsh branches are taught. If there Is
no such school within two miles, the
requirement is waived. A fine of 50 for
the first violation and not exceeding So
for subsequent violations is the penalty
of conviction before regular justice
of the peace or alderman, but the de-
fendant may, upon easy terms, appeal
to the county courts. Provision is made
for the annual enumeration of all child
ren between the ages of s and II years,
and for the discovery of those whose
parents or guardians come within the
law. Then follows this section, which
we reprint entire:
1t shall be the duty of each teacher in
the school district to report to the secre-
tary of the board of directors or control
T., . = 4.
of all children on the list previously fur
nished by the secretary who We're absent
without satisfactory cause for five sue
cessve days during the month for which
the report shall be made, when, If 1t shall
appear that any parent, guardian or
other person having control of any child
or children, shall have failed to comply
with the provisions of this act after due
notification in writing, the secretary, in
the name of the school district shall pro-
ceed against the offending party or par
ties. in accordance with law, by complaint
before any alderman or justice of the
peace. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE
AFORESAID PENALTY SHALL NOT
BE IMPOSED If 1T SHALL BE SATIS-
FACTORILY PROVED UPON THE
TRIAL OF THE CASE THAT THE
PARENT, GUARDIAN OR OTHER
PERSON so NEGLECTING WAS UN-
ABLE, BY REASON OF POVERTY
OR OTHER SATISFACTORY EN-
CUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE RE-
QUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT; PRO-
VIDED FURTHER, THAT IF SUF-
TICIENT CAUSE BE SHOWN FOR
THE NEGLECT OF THE REQUIRE
1IENTS OF THIS ACT THE COST OF
SAID PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE PAID
OUT OF THE DISTRIST FUNDS UPON
"A PROPER VOUCHER APPROVED BY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR CON
TROLLERS.
dian whose personal need is superior
no the intellectual and moral need of
his children can be excused from the
operations of this act, without costing
him one copper penny.
We come now to the Scranton Truth
We beg to say, at once, that we shall
question can be discussed impersonally
and patiently and we shall try thus to
discuss 1t. We believe a perusal of the
Farr bill, as we have just outlined Its
sense and methods, will convince tho
unbiased reader that there is nothing
In that bill calculated to cause IAN In
crease in poor house building" Upor
the contrary, after the Farr law should
have received honest enforcement fol
one generation, we believe that poor.
house building in Pennsylvania would
decrease. by reason of the enlarged
ability of now ignorant boys and girls
to earn q livelihood and thus not be-
come public charges. The liberties
of parents and guardians would be en-