Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-28

VI.
PestalozzTs principles were very early |
adopted and tie attention OF teachers was |
directed to Tho method of arousing the |
child's mind through sense perception.
Since 1877, Italy has had free schools
without tuition fees, and compulsory
law insures some four years of schooling
to all. This will rapidly reduce the
illiteracy and increase the productivity
Of the nation. 1t is noteworthy that the
freedom and unity of Italy have come
from the section, where popular education
has been most cared for,
Spain is making an effort to establish
universal education and ranks with Italy
in this respect.
Sweden compels children between and
IA to attend school. 1t is to Sweden that
We are indebted for the Sloid system oil
manual training which has attracted
special students from all parts of the
| world, to the Swedish normal school at
| Mas to study. This originated in the
home industry practiced during long
winter evenings--feats OF skill in the
manufacture of wooden ware-the jack
knife being the principal tool in requisi.
ton. Slojd in tine normal school referred
to, has extended itself to metal work To
some extent and so as to initiate the pupils
into the use Of tools employed In skilled
labor. There is in all grades of the schools,
much attention given to tho preparation
| VI uOyS luI hstlul tIauSs hHl VI GiEAS AOl
homework.
In Finland, q compulsory law relates to
children between the ages of and Ia.
| Much stress is here laid upon The educa-
ton of teachers, S75960 being appropriated
annually to normal schools and Sll ,26O
beng devoted to provide able inspectors OF
elementary schools.
Ii we turn now to our own country, We
find that the following States have enacted
compulsory laws Massachusetts, District
of Columbia, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Michigan, Washington Connecticut, New
Mexico, Nevada, New York, Kansas, Cali
fornia, Maine. New Jersey, Wyoming,
Ohio, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Illinois,
Dakota, Montana, Minnesota. Nebraska,
Idaho Colorado Oregon and Utah, q total
of %. and we hope soon to see Delaware
numbered among this bright galaxy Of
States With Pennsylvania now strug.
Cling with bill to secure universal educa-
ton, with New YORK just emerging from
her contest in this same direction, we
women of Delaware ought not to hesitate
to throw our influence and our energies
upon the side of this reform. We seem to
have reached the flood of the tide and we
hope that it will lead on to fortune"
A school in Dedham, Mass. recently
celebrated the 25Oth anniversary of its ex.
istence and boasts of the proud distinction
of having been the first free school in
America. The history of free schools
in this country is, therefore, almost CO.
existent with that of the very constitution
of our government for the earliest settlers,
we are told, planted first, the meeting
house and then the school and thus put
into visible form this idea of the compile
mentary character OF religion and educa-
, ton. In Massachusetts the subject of
universal education engaged the attention
OF the general court OF Massachusetts
, from the time of its earliest settlement.
As far back as 1912. the seleCtmen of every
( town were required to have 4 vigilant eye
over their brethren and neighbors to see
D that none of them shall suffer so much
1 barbarisn in any of their families rs not
j to endeavor to teach, by themselves and
| others, their children aud apprentices so
, much learning rs may make them per,
fectly to read the English tongue and a
3 knowledge of the capital laws" upon
q penalty of ~ shillings for each neglect
{ ! therein. In Connecticut the selectmen OF
e towns after suitable admUnitiuns had
S failed, were required to take the children
r of negligent parents and bind them out
4 with persons who would look after their
2 education. Blue laws. these, indeed, but
s wholesome ones, nevertheless! There is
: no doubt that the compulsory educational
4 law is right in principle.
/ Superintendent Edwards of Illinois,
|, writes The State taxes the citizen fol
i the support Of public schools because uni.
f versal education Is necessary to the preser
Walton of the state and of the institutions
It of civilization. This tax every property
u holder is compelled to pay. lie has M
n choice. Now, ii the State has this right Il
q take by authority the citizens property
e has not the citizen the right to demaIt
d that the purpose for which this property
It is taken shall be carried out? Ana thai
/, purposeis the education of all the children
4, OF the State. II is therefore the imperative
of IN al all
p enforce the accomplishing of this purpose
" To fail in this would be, on the part Of thu
n State, an exercise of bad faith toward ID
K tax-paying citizens" Upon the openin,
n to tho public of the new Boston publ
Ie library, u few days ago, one sentence wa
Il enumerated which deserves to ring in GU
Ie ears, in editorial sanctums and In our hall
of legislature That sentence was "Th
"a commonwealth requires the education o
n the citizen as the safeguard of law an
70 order"
!, DO not think that am talking for th
re benefit OF postGrlty. The man in Congress
= who said he was not talking To thus
re assembled before him, but to posterity
pr talked so long that his hearers wer
\ afraid that his audience woul
re arrive before he had stopped hi
9. is SO important subject, is so en-
rs wrapped with the very perpetuity Of on
L. government that one is apt to grow proli
10 over II. llOW are We 10 meet tine cry u
the children for food for their minds
rs How are we to meet such cases a4 tina
re recently reported from Milwaukee, til
re case of q farmer boy of 10 who procure
is large sums, illegally, upon United State
d. money orders. With the money realize
n. he purchased books from stores in Ne
is YORK and Boston. He pleaded guilty whe
,r. prosecuted and said the only excuse Ii
ia had was that he wished to educate him
Va self, and added that he was sorry for whs
nv he had done. What is to be done wit
of such cases but u make an education )
he easy of requirement that no one will rcso
of to subteriuae and theft to procure til
,er boon that ought 10 be the birth right 10
na session of all. As first step, we w6u
rv say: Pass the pending bill and sOmethil
r1. certainly will be done to prevent the mu
IL tiplcution of benighted understanding
OF The second step, we believe. will be TAXI
he when the women of this city take = mo
n active interest i'll the educational needs
ms our city and state; when women who a
on property holders avail themselves Of IL
he opportunity thus afforded. to elect met
IN beers 10 seats in the Board Of EluCatio
ME when women, themselves become meI
ri. bers of this body and intuse some of til
nh thuroughnGSs and attention to detail in
ess the routine Of school visiting; wht
un women, in short, become in publ
tIy sense what they have been since Il
in creation Of the world, in a private Seug
ted mothers OF the human race.
IN DEATH or MICHAEL KE8RNEY.
~
lus Tho Well-known Local Pugiiist Su
no. cumbs tn Consumption.
md Michael hcarney, a well-knpwn loo
IA ~ ~.