The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-03
ALL MUST GO TO SCHOOL
COMPULSORY EDUCATION LAW WILL
REQUIRE a LARGE OUTLAY.
Citizens Must Help Make 1t a Success
The Education Society's Meeting
at Plymouth Last Night.

The compulsory education law was dis
cussed at public meeting of the Citizens
Education Society held a Plymouth Church
last night. Last March the society was or
ganized ito promote a broader knowledge
of the science of education better under
standing Of methods now employed and
closer sympathy and cooperation between
the home and the school" General Harri-
son Is a member of the executive committee
and was to have presided at the meeting
last night. but was detained at home on
account of a bad cold. Mayor Taggart was
also compelled to be absent for a similar
reason. Thomas c. Day, chairman of the
executive committee, presided Several
hundred persons were in the auditorium of
the church and manifested deep interest in
the educational topics presented for consid-
GRAFTON.
Justus c. Adams, president of the Board
of Trade, spoke first on THE Proper Atti-
tude of the Citizen Toward the Compulsory
Education Law" Mr.. Adams regretted
that there had been no compulsory educa-
ton law in his youth and asserted that if
there had been he would have been one of
those to reap it's advantages. In part Mr..
Adams said:
" An ounce of preventive is better than
pound Of cure is an old, yet practical
saying. IL the generation growing up
around us should receive during the period
of childhood an education, even in the COM
mon branches of learning, and be sur
rounded by saving influences from those
things which they should not know, the
need for penitentiaries and reform schools
would grow less year by year The cause
that called you together is certainly wor-
thy one; TO awaken interests, to create. fos-
ter and promote healthy public sentiment
towards upholding and making effective
the compulsory school law passed at the
last session of the General Assembly of
our State is indeed a laudable purpose and
a commendable undertaking which in its
every phase appeals to the better impulses
OF our nature, the highest instincts of So
ctety and is in line with the most progress
sive views of an enlightened public opinion.
TO rescue the children of our State who
are dependent without caretaNers, from
neglect and moral degradation, often from
abuse, exposure, blows and brutality TO the
body and what is infinitely worse blight
upon their souls, by improving their sur
roundings and lettering their often il-fa-
Vored conditions and giving them lE Oppor-
tunlty TO help themselves by receiving an
education is indeed duty we owe our
selves and the community
While [ am not disposed to criti2ise my
fellow-men who differ with me on this
question, yet | cannot forbear saying that
he who holds opposite views has certainly
lost interest in his fellow-men and has but
small concern in the future welfare of his
race or the prosperity and well-being of
our common country. The question is not
new to the people of the State; although
1t may be new as law upon the statute
books, yet the idea has been fully consid-
cred by thousands of intelligent, we'll
meaning, right-thinking people.
The proposition enacted into law of re-
curing children of a suitable age and phys
ically able to attend the public schools for
a part of the year, is problem that has
been thoroughly considered and carefully
weighed by the thinking. humane people of
our State, who believe that the education
of the masses is potent factor in staying
pauperism. lessening crime and reforming
the criminal, with the added suggestion
that this law will result in a decreased eX-
penSe for the support of the pauper and
INDECENT classes, which would be q relief to
the already oVerburdened taXbearer. And
now as the General Assembly has recognized
the demand for universal education and
provided by law that every child of a suit
able age who does not come of it's own Volt
ton or is sent to school by its parent,
guardian or caretaker shall be brought by
the power of this great State to the school
house door and there given an even chance
with every other child in receiving an edu-
cation and have their young minds turned
in proper channels for usefulness, so that
the child that has heretofore followed i'm
pulse and instructions will, under the care
of the State and the guidance of the teach
ers of our public schools. be given an OPP
portunity to become reputable and self
respecting men and women.
1.-The State can bestow no greater boon,
she can grant no more valuable bounty to
her children than give each and every child
within her four corners common school
education. Aside from the moral growth
and intellectual training its certain result
would be to relieve misery, to cure inliI mi
ties of the mind as we'll as the body, to
stimulate Self-respect, and, what Is better
yet to encourage self-support. 1t remains
for her citizens to aid and assist in carry
ing into effect the spirit of this law and
make suitable provisions for It's intelligent
execution.
WILL INCREASE EXPENSES.
1.-THE increased attendance that will come
with its enforcement to the already over
crowded schools of the State will necessar-
lily call for larger accommodations, more
schoolhouses and additional teachers, all of
which will involve considerable expense.
Yet / believe the extra demand upon the
people will be met with a generous
spouse. The taxpayers of Indiana have al
ways met every call made upon them af-
fecting the moral and Intellectual progress
of our citizens uncomplainingly and with
out murmur.. They have taxed themselves
to the limit to give sight TO the blind,
hearing to the deaf language to the dumb
and intellect to the feeble.minded. Ihey
are expanding hundreds of thousands OF
dollars annually to provide suitable care
and attention for those from whose mind
reason has been dethroned, and made suit
able provision by law for finding homes for
the dependent orphan children whom fate
has thrown on the cold charities of the
said there is no brighter jewel in Indiana S
crown of greatness than the parental az
lection, care and oversight WHlcn she De
slows on the orphans of her soldiers in
providing homes, support ana education Tor
the children of those who have yielded all
that man holds dear and Is of value in this
world in order that this Nation might not
be blotted from the map of the world.
Nearly half q century has passed since
this great State laid the foundations deep
and wide for system of common schools
and taxed her limited resources to establish
a fund with which to support and main
tain that system. That modest heritage
so established has increased and multiplied
under the fostering care of the State, until
to-day il has reached the enormous ag
gregate of nearly $10000,000. This sacred
fund has been kept inviolate and the inter-
est only applied to support our great sys-
tenn of common schools.
Heretofore we have only trod the outer
rim of the circle, but now our citizens are
confronted with a serious problem, one
that cannot be brushed aside or winked out
of sight. 1t is understood by those who
have given this matter attention that the
school revenues at the command OF the
township trustees and school boards of the
several corporations and communities are
totally Inadequate to meet the demands
that will at once be made upon them when
the compulsory school law shall become
operative | believe the people will sus-
tain this increased call, for the measure
appeals to the justice and consciences or
those who feel the need OF Keeping the
social fabric pure wholesome and unde
filed l will not further take your time,
except TO say this question Is very close
to the hearts of our people, who have
cherished and nursed these fountains OF in
telligence as they have valued and main
tanned the public schools. which system has
stood unchalenged for half century, being
absolutely free from class. cast or prefer
ence and is to-day the chief glory OF our