Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-09-26

being a careful and energetic person,
the teacher will necessarily bring the
action to bear in law to compel attend
ance; and, unless for good and sufficient
cause, the parent or guardian would be
held TO the letter of the law and the child
would receive its allotted schooling.
1t is probable that with a vigorous
method of action in the matter by the
parties under law to enforce the same,
the parents and guardians would neces.
sarily take an interest in school matters
and would either send their children
when required or see that school comes
at the most advantageous time of the
year. No one would enjoy the reputa-
ton of being brought into court for not
children to attend school and they would
feel better over the fact that their child
rem were learning at school.
| believe the general public has due
regard for the chldren's education, but
there are some who at times defeat the
general purpose of education by their
opposition to the same. If the majority
OF the people were not in favor of educa-
ton, it would be hard to enforce the law,
but where the majority Is in favor of the
SdillC dS u may bE Ill lllO5l NItlllllICS, lDG
majority can more readily be compelled
to attend to educational matters cncum-
bent upon them; and, indeed, if the
minority be against education that is on
ly proof according to constitutional con-
dtlons of civil and social life that the
authority OF the majority rules and rul-
| ing would therefore OF right dictate that
| the minority abide by the majolity and
| comply with the same conditions OF cdu-
cation regarding the general schooling Of
their children.
Compulsion becomes justihablc as said
before under the necessity for the same
! and is matter OF self representation in its
lar-rcaching extent when invoked under
the law.
After all the less cnmity of strife neces-
sary, the better the progress will be in
| the community and compulsion should
be carefully invoked in cases OF careless
and wantOn neglect of duty. If gentle
persuasion is non effective then the law
should be brought into action. Proper
exceptions from the rule might be made
in the law, but generally speaking, all
children should receive the benefit OF the
common school system.
Apparently under the present law
| there is no incentive in caring money for
the district by the daily attendance, and
the law does not help the enthusiasm at
all by being so constituted.
believe much depends upon the
teachers qualifications and general sue
cess as a teacher. However, the teacher
should be given all the support of the
district and the children given the adj
vantage of the school instruction. If
there are so serious objections to the
teacher as to keep children out of school,
there are ways of settling that difficulty
without depriving the child of its learn
ing.
would say as last remark, that law
is for the minority or few who violate
some or all Of the necessary conditions of
government and so in this case compul-
sion is a recognized authority of the
majority that all children must for the
good of the people and government as
well as its own good, receive at least
common school education, and that for
the protection of the government and
the child, that parent or guardian who
refuses to assent to the requirements
without good cause for excuse is viola
tor of law and government and should
be made TO comply with the same in
order 10 preserve the unity of the people
and nation.