The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-31
Some Opinions Presented Covering the Is
sues in the School Election.
John F. Dore Warmly Advo-
Gates the Adoption Of the
Measure--The States Duty to
the Children--Rich and Poor
Should Be Treated Equally
Some Objections to the Law
Answered Forcibly.

In the subjolned letter. John F. Dore
answers. from his point OF view. the objec-
tons that have been made TO the free text
book Law. enunciating reasons why. In his
opinion. the measure should be favoraoly
voted on by the people:
twas a maxim OF the Roman law that
"fhe child was the present ward Of the
state and its future guardian This max
I'm infallibly states the relation existing
between the American child and the COM
monweaith. One Of the greatest educators
that this country has known, Horace
Mann. said: Education Is capital TO the
poor man and an interest 10 the rich man.
IL is self-evident that education IL the
source from which good citizenship ordin-
arily flows, and therefore II Is the duty or
the state TO see TO II that the child Ii edu-
Gated. that he may become good and
useful citizen. The taxpayer furnishes to
the child the school and teacher. and all
things necessary for its comfort while at
tauiing school. such as fire. light. black
boards, charts and the paraphernaiia used
by the teacher. But no school book is fur
nished the pupil / contend that there Is
no good reason why the text book should
not be furnished as wei as the things re-
ferred TO. The argument advanced against
free text books in our public schools are
substantially these. First-It would be an
additional burden on the taxpayer. Sec
ond-If text books are furnished free. de-
mand will be made 10 furnish food and
clothing to the child attending school, the
public TO pay the costs. Third-It would
be a means OF disseminating disease.
Fourth--A wanton destruction of school
books. the property of the state or city.
Concerning the first objection, the in
crease in taxation would be so inconsider
able a sum that II would not be felt by
the property owner. The taxpayer fur
nishes the general public with a library
where adult and child may receive books
NJ al Kinds nd n ar
have the audacity to declaim against the
public library. The library Is established
as an educational institution and IL would
be just as logical TO Insist that all who de-
sire TO read books OF science and fiction
that are obtainable at public library. In
stead OF having them furnished free,
should be Obliged to go to the bookseller
and purchase them for their own use,
10 make IL compulsory upon the parent 10
pay for the text book that his children use
In the public schools. From the very mo-
ment OF breath a child becomes citizen
entitled 10 all the protection and education
that the government can give II.
As TO the second argument urged against
free text books. IL Is not based upon rea-
son. It Is true that the law casts upon the
childs parent the duty of caring for IL
during minority. That Is the parent Is
obliged to feed. clothe and house his Off
spring. unaided from any source But this
does not necessarily carry with IL the OBJ
legation TO educate his children. and what
ever education the child receives Is far
more beneficial TO the state than TO the
parent.
Bonaparte asked Madame de Stael In
what manner he could best promote the
happiness of France. Her reply Is full of
political wisdom. She said: "Tnstruct the
mothers OF the French people"
Beecher once said: 1T was the German
school house which destroyed Napoleon
III" France since then is making mon
ster cannon and drilling soldiers still, but
she Is building school houses. As long as
war r. possible anything that makes better
soldiers
II Is evident to me that Il Is the state
That Is most benefited by the education OF
the masses
There are thousands Of children going
without education In the United States by
reason OF the expense attached TO the pur-
chase az school books But 4 Is claimed
that thew can set them by simply asking
FOR them. That IS the state Dispensing
charity pure and simple. 1t Is hard 20
require child 20 make known its parents
impccuniosity. for we know only too well
that N this fact Is advertised Il affords
the parents netghhors opportunity for idle
gossip and the childs schcolnlates are in
a position TO throw II up daily to the little
charity scholar. I for one believe that the
child should not be placed in such a posi-
sion, ] believe that IL Is the duty OF the
state 20 place on equal footing as far as
poor man and the rich man. and IN doing
this. the child will be educated TO appre-
ciate the language Of the Declaration Of
Independence that all men are created
equal" We should not forget what Add
son said IN regard to educating the poor
child: " A statue Hes hid In a block Of mar
be. and the srt Of the statuary only clears
away the superfiuous matter and removes
she rubbish The figure Is in the stone. the
sculptor only finds II. what sculpture is
90 4 block OF marble eiucati ton 81 20 a
human soul The philosopher the saint
0r the nero-the wise. the good or the
great man-vcrv often lies hid and con-
ceaied IN a pieheian which a proper educa-
ton might have disinterred and have
brought % life"
AZ 20 The argument that free text books
VIII disseminate diseases. science has dera-
onstrated that books can easily be fumi-
gated and cleansed 50 that there IS no oD-
portunitv 81 their carrying disease and as
far as the destruction Of the school hook
by the pupit there IS no more likelihood
% his destroying a text hook Shan a book
that he = authorized 20 take from a public
library 20 read Nauy Of the Eastern
state are furnishing today free text books
20 THE pupils q their public schools with
grattfyiDg results. There "a no reason why
we in the Tar Northwest should NOT avail
ourselves - the experience Of the older
states that have adopted the system OF
free text books for The pupil attending the
public school. ' am certainly favoFa bile
Il giving the child OF the poor man the
same opportunities for esiuca ton that the
sn~ ~ ne wealthy merchant has pro-
vited his peer parent IS in a position "a
support him during the years that he =
seeking his education
In the language OF Webster. son The
diffusion 81 stiWca tscn among the neonle
rests the preservation and rerpetuatlon u
-. a..