The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-18

| desire to call the attention of the
public to a radical defect in our school
law, that they may have their minds
prepared for its removal at the next
session of our Legislature. The de-
feet to which | allude is the lack of
a compulsory clause. The state in
its wisdom has recognized its duty to
provide for it's children the means for
obtaining an education. This duty
had its origin in the obligation of the
state to promote the public welfare.
The prosperity of the state can only
be secured through good citizenship,
and good citizenship can only be Sc
cured through well ordered cause
of moral and intellectual training
The virtue of our citizenship will be
in an exact proportion to the educa-
ton of our people, taking education
in its true sense, as embracing the
whole nature of man. Our common
school system is founded on the rec
ognition of these fundamental princi-
pies, and they have been deemed of
such importance to the public welfare
that the state has assumed the
responsibility involved, and levies a
tax upon its people to support sys-
tenn of education.
Experience has shown that this
vital interest of the state cannot be
left to chance or the voluntary action
of the people. Now if it is the duty of
the state to tax its people for the
support of this system of education,
and to take control of the education
of it's children, it is certainly both its
right and duty to require all children
to avail themselves of this priceless
privilege. Observation and expert
ence show to us that in every cOmlnu-
nifty there are children growing up i'll
| ignorance and vice, almost under the
shadow of our public schools. Houses
have been built and teachers have
been employed at the expense of the
people, but certain portions of the
children who are of school age are not
in school. These are generally found
| to be the children who should claim
the sympathy and care of the state.
They are children of ignorant and
indolent parents, or parents whom no
teacher can please, and if left to
themselves, will only serve to perpet-
uate ignorance and vice. They stay
out of school, but congregate on our
streets and in our public places and
in our church yards and turn these
places into schools of vice and crime.
From these schools comes the rude,
the idle, the rOgues who can never be
anything else but a dead weight to
the state From this school comes
our criminal class that fills our jails,
penitentiaries and houses of cOrrec-
ton Now all of these boys and
girls, whose misfortune it is to be
thus neglected, have in them posi-
bilities of good, useful and honorable
citizenship. They naturally have as
bright minds as others, and only need
to be brought under control, and to
receive Il proper training to become
good citizens, to transfer them from
this class of ignorant and vicious to
that of the intelligent, useful and
respectable. How then can the state
perform its duty to those, but by
bringing them under the control of
the law?
Some of the reasons that we should
have compulsory school law in the
state of Maryland, are,
list, 1t would wipe out the petty
excuses that parents put up for not
sending to school.
end, 1t would make people more
virtuous, generous and patriotic.
3D., 1t would bring into school those
who most need an education - the
children of the poor.
4th, 1t would give teachers the
opportunity to do what they are paid
for doing.
9Th, Taxpayers would realize a
greater benefit of their money.
9Th. 1t would lessen the per cent. of
crime and thus save the state vast
sums of money.
18th, Without it the state can never
hope to reach the ideal.
Sth, 1t is business thing to do.
a. l.. Ia.