The San Francisco call., 1898-04-18
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.

To the Editor of The Call: In your issue on the Sth inst, among other valu- able matter Is an editorial lamenting the failure of citizens to follow up The Call s exposure of fraud in public office by ar rests, looking toward conviction of off, cial offenders. This failure is there at triouted to lack of active interest, or to inability to realize the wrongness of wrong, the enormity of crimes against the public by men in whom the public has placed trust and to whom it has delegated authority.
 In searching for remedy for this in- action complained of, we must, perhaps, despair of changing the mental attitude or status of adults, or of any great num- Der of them. But there are the children who will in a few years fill our places. They need not, of necessity, initiate our falings, but they will do so if not taught {. better way. When children are spoken of most readers bring to mind the sweet, trim little beings who flock with burden of books to our school rooms. Let them turn for once to the unkempt, untrained, unlettered little native sons and daugh- ters, who do not know the companion ship of schoolmates, who go not to any school nor learn of any master that they have the inheritance of freemen, that a few years will bring them power, through the magic vote, over the lives and for tunes of city or a State.
 Let US recall the fact that over 30 900 children of school age are not in any school. We, as citizens, fail to give them the benefits of that training and moral in- struction which is provided by public funds. taking by this means the risk of adding annually to the number of the inert class complained of. Laying aside the ethical aspect of compulsory educa- ton, our duty to give to all children an education befitting free American citi- zens, can we afford to allow this great number, or any number, to remain un- enlightened in right directions while ex- posed to the worst influences of a large city? They are being educated! but by what masters? They are becoming citi- zens, but what class of citizens?
 Let our compulsory education laws be enforced. not only. In order to bring in our legal quota of State funds. but to save the children to pure and enlight- ened citizenship and from degradation and crime The elementary committee of the board has announced determination to enforce the law, stating that 10 per cent of the children enrolled by the cen sus have failed to attend any school. But this cannot be carried out unless citi- zens in general cooperate with the board It is difficult matter to trace thousand children and be sure that they are in thelr place day after day. Beside this one reason accepted by the law for non- attendance is that parents or guardians are extremely poor or sick How does that sound in connection with free pub- liz schools?" No sooner does a family become destitute, unable to buy cloth ing and books. than their little ones are allowed to drift. helpless, into ignorance and idleness Shame on a city that al iows such conditions!
 Wise economies would lead us to raise 1 funds sufficient for needed school build | ings, truant schools and attendant ex- | penses, rather than allow the young tc become irresponsible citizens who will