The age-herald., 1901-01-27
Why the Federation Has Not
 Urged Compulsory Education

The inquiry is often made why has not the Federation Committee in its agitation of the educational subect had something to say on compulsory education and child labor two measures which are receiving so much and such we'll deserved attention from the most prominent advocates of school reform.
 The reason, perhaps, lies far back in a woman's experience. She has learned net to ask for too much at time if she ex- poets her demands to be regarded. It is also generally conceded that a woman has intuitive faculty (since she is not ac- credited with reason) which enables her, by short cut to arrive at the real nature of things.
 So our committee, in it's desire to be con- servative and in its desire to begin the re- form at the very foundation, drew atten- ton in its report only to the most fragrant evils and the most pressing needs in our common school system, believing that all good things could be added thereto.
 In our bill is incorporated only such recommendations as were adopted by the Federation at its last convention.
 Until we have good superintendents, good teachers and good school houses compul- sorry education will be absurd and children far more profitably employed in earning their living.
 In the reports of the county superin- tendents contained in the last biennial re- port of the Department of Education there is almost universal complaint made Of poor and unequipped school houses, though some improvement is noted in the quality of teachers.
 By the way, after reading these we'll written and remarkably clever reports, one cannot but wonder where are all the un- qualified county superntendents. Yet l am reliably informed that there are many such and that in county adjoining my own (Cahoun) there is one who has to make mark for his signature.
 This matter can be easily remedied, how ever, by appointing only such men as are or have been actively engaged in teaching, for no others can be qualified to perform the various duties of the office
 As to the two measures compulsory edu- cation and the prevention of child labor, we do advocate both most warmly. Even the most casual study of the school laws in the United States alone cannot but i'm press one with their vast importance and the impossibiity of rising to a higher ed- ucational plane without these two basic clements. In all the Northeastern states and in the progressive Western states edu- cation is compulsory, while in the Southern states it becomes a privilege only, greater stress being laid upon a precaution for keeping the races separate than anything else, a precaution very necessary for us, but which does not preclude from any other good measure.
 Among the many Spartan virtues worthy of emulation, not the least was that which considered the children as the property of the state, and although there is queer twist in human nature which makes it va ue lightly those benefits which cost nothing, still the state should use the same gentle force in regard to education that a wise parent would use in administering a tonic to a sick child
 MRS. w. F. JOHNSTON, Chairman of Educational Committee Ala
 bama Federation of Women's Clubs.