The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-08

| After music from the orchestra the last
speaker Tor the affirmative was presented.
This was Mr. J. c. Little, whose rea-
! sons Tor compulsory education, were, In
( brief:
MR. LITTLE FOR AFFIRMATIVE.
The conditions in North Carolina to-
| day are appalling. There are in the
State one hundred and twenty three
thousand men over twenty-on years of
age who cannot read and write. But
| this is not the worst of the story.
| North Carolina for her own preserva-
| tion has adopted and endowed a system
OF public schools, and these schools are
not attended. Out of the $685. 900 children
| OF school age in North Carolina, only
2l3ooo are in average attendance upon
the pubiic schools. What is worse still,
the average attendance for the last ten
| years mas been gradually falling off The
percentage OF average attendance was
greater in 1880 than in 1900.
! Now, would compulsory law be prac-
ticable? 1t is certain that this great
class OF children, numbering 1900 who
are enrolled in the public schools bur
who do not attend would be compelled to
attend regularly under the operation of
a compulsory attendance law That
they are able to attend is proved by the
TACT that they have been enrolled. A
house has been built for them. desk
mas been assigned them, a teacher has
been employed and it would cost the
State no more to see to it that they at
tend regularly.
Compulsory attendance laws have
worked well in other countries. Prussia.
Saxony, Bavaria, Denmark, Scotland
ana switzerland, all have COMPULSORY
laws and theoretically enforce them In
| these countries, the very best Of results
have been obtained.
New York has compulsory law. ana
the attendance has been increased IL per
cent III that State. The Secretary of the
o.aae Board OF Education says their
compulsory law works with great salts
faction. The same is true in Ohio
Minnesota, Michigan and other States.
/ lhoeed, such law has been found neces-
sary IN all the enlightened countries of
europe and in thirty-two of the Ameri-
can states. What the law has done for
other countries, it can 10 for North Car
DINA.
AFTER his able argument, during the
course OF which he replied to various
points presented by the negative. Mr..
I Little give way to the closing speaker.
Mr.. l.. p. Howard, who in effective
manner hrst presented denial to some
OF the statistical statements of his pre-
dccessors, and followed these up with his
argument, parts of which is
MR.. HOWARD FOR THE NEGATIVE.
The basis of our opponents argument
is an Inference that because a compulsory
law has succeeded in other States that
/ II Will succeed in North Carolina Their
premise is false one. Compulsory laws
have failed in a majority of the States
that have adopted them Such legislation
has never succeeded in the South. Mary
land and Texas have both tried the ex-
pertinent and have failed Kentucky and
West Virginia have such laws at the pres
ent time, but the laws are never en-
forced
These laws failed because they were
not supported by a strong public senti-
ment in their favor. All the authorities
are agreed that no compulsory attend
ance law can succeed unless supposed
by the strongest public sentiment in It's
favor; and according to the arguments
or our opponents we have not such sen
ument in North Carolina. The law con-
seqnently would not be enforced. and
therefore we should not adopt it,
That we should strive to decrease our
illiteracy no one disputes. The question
is as to the remedy. Our opponents
say, Give us legislation on the subject -
The idea is prevalent that legislation is
the remedy for all ills, but evils are not
rooted out of the heart by dead laws
No reformation can be accomplished by
force. Evolution is what we need not
revolution. We should not use force
until we have tried persuasion.
The remedy, then, is not in a COM
pulsory attendance law. For ten years
after Massachusetts, adopted such law
there was no gain in attendance. gain
was made only when compulsion gave
way to Improvement in school equip
ment and healthy stimulation. What we
need is more active and energetic school
officers, higher salaries more comfort
able buildings and general improve
ment in school equipment. AS we get
this, more and more our attendance Will
increase proportionately.
If we need any other stimulus we have
it in the recent amendment to the Con-
stitution. This will deepen and widen
the tide of education already sweeping
over the State. Many who have been
careless and Indifferent will send their
children to the schools and the state
will have all it can do to give an oppor-
tunity to those who desire it. This is
the duty now.
AS the final words OF Mr.. Howard
closed the formal addresses there was a
roar of applause, while Trinity and Wake
Forest colors f1uttered in the air. After
musical selection the rejoinders be-
gan.
THE REJOINDERS.
The affirmative was heard first through
Mr.. Dunn. He denied that constitutional
suffrage amendments had aided South
Carolina and Louisiana educationaly,
said it was no use going to Georgia for
views on compulsory education, but to
simply look at former State Sup7rntend-
ent Mebane's plea for If; declared that
Iowa had compulsory law at one time
and it did immense good. Said that des-
pite the words attributed to Labor Com
missioner Warner used against compul-
sorry education that gentlemen he'd re-
- ~ NJ ~,~