The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-30
THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL Law
Why II Is Necessary to Have such Law
onthe Statute Books,

ohthe stntute Hooks.
To the Editor Of the Intelllsencer.
sIR:-wll you kindly allow me space
in your valuable paper to say few
words in regard to the compulsory school
law.
Compulsory education has been much
talked OF and much abused. II appears
that great many persons do not under
stand the intent of such Law. There
are many persons opposed 70 this law
from the simple fac. that they are always
wlllIns and anxious that tbeIr children
get the fun benefit OF educational advan-
tages, and, as a consequence, such law
is an injustice to them, We have laws
against stealing, e.c. Who are prose-
cuted under these laws? Those who vic.
late them, OF course So with the COM
pulsory school law It Is Intended for
negligent parents, for those who do not
take enough interest In the present and
future welfare OF their children TO send
them to school, and for those who have
no compulsory law al home.
For illustration let us divide the people
into four classes, and Ii will be readily
seen why We need compulsory school
law more stringent than the present one,
viz: The willis" the ''negllgents," the
"wonts" the "can'ts,"
The wills" make a success at any
thing they undertake. When a boy or
girl says: II don't want TO so to school
to-day" the parents say, go TO school
to-day; attend to your lessons and mind
your teacher" and IT'S done Do you
think these children give their teachers
much trouble? Do you think many OF
these children reach our jal!s, poor
houses and penltentlarles? Do you
think many Of them become tramps 4?
j think not. Where there Is a will there
Is n way"
The "negllgents' have desire to sue
coed, but simply do not grasp the oppor-
tunitles that present themselves. They
resolve to send their children 10 school
every day this term; TO take more inter-
est in educational matters, to ask their
children about their Lessons and help in
every way they can, but ii Is seldom ever
done simply neglected. The children do
not take the interest they would have
taken had they had even little home
encouragement. They soon leave school.
sometimes not able to read or write. Is
It the teachers fault?
The 'wonts" are opposed to every
thing. They don't make their children
mind at home, and IL q teacher corrects
them they are fighting mad. They are
opposed to compulsory law because It
takes away my personal liberty" such
personal liberty Is not worth possessing.
Is there any liberty In ignorance?
The "can'ts' fail in everything simply
because they do not try. They have
never learned the lessons that experience
teaches. They say, II can't" and there
Il ends.
These Illustrations are true In all af-
faifs Of life The wills" are the rich
people, the "negpgents." "wonts' aud
can'ts' are the poor people,
There are over 1000 children in West
Virginia OF school age. Their education
Is paid for by the state; then hasn't the
state the right, and isn't Il the states
duty TO compel these children 70 attend
school? The state can better afford TO
pay double the money II Is paying for the
education of It's children. than to pay
so many lawyers fees and expenses OF
jails and penltentlarles.
! nope teachers parents and educators
all over the state will discuss this sub-
ject at length. A grand work can be
done through the press Let us waken
up, and arouse the people 20 q sense OF
their duty so that when our next leglsla-
ture meets they will give us more
stringent compulsory law-and free text
books w. i. SMITH.
Bolton, w. Va.