The sun., 1901-03-28
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.


In the discussion and settlement of the
question of nonresident pupils in the
public schools, we suggest that it is not
a question of the amount of money in
volved so much as u question of prin-
ciple.
Regarded as legal or moral ques.
ton, the nonresident pupils have no
right to free tuition in the public schools
Of this city. The parents Of these chill
dren know that, and they know that
they are subjecting their children to pos
sible summary Dismissal; and again are
teaching them to disrespect and violate
the laws of the State. just here it is
pertinent to say that DIR. Frantz's theory,
that "a bad law is better violated than
kept is not tenable. Respect for and
obedience e t. & isl6'scee1ls Of orderly
cost of policing the city and country at
arge, the establishment of courts and
support of persons, is incurred. In a
larger scale, but still for the same pur-
pose, armies and nations are established
and supported. That these things are
necessary is proof of the hollowness and
inconsistency OF what we call Christian
civilization-a show of force is absolutel,
necessary to prevent outlawry. 1t is thi
lisrespect of law, and daring to vioat
it and risk its punishments, that make
all the trouble in our politics. If al
citizens would do only what the Law
sanctions, not attempt to twist it out 0
shape to find excuses for avoiding it
plain provisions, there would be II
trouble in politics, and there would b
no trouble in the administration of til
affairs of the city, county and State
through public offices. But how ca
this ideal condition be reached if-in tn
public schools, where the youth of til
State make their first contact with il
and which are instituted and supporte
for the purpose of so raising the inte
lectual and moral standards of citizer
ship and thus promote both the know
edge of and respect for the law-the chi
drcn are taught to disregard and violat
the law?
In this case the evil goes further. ]
is developing in the children. in their rt
lation to the law, greed that insist
upon getting something valuable fU
nothing-of getting it at the expense q
others and without their consent; an
further than that to get that valuabl
something out of the public treasury
upon the principle that it is not wron
70 steal from the public.
So as much as we might be inclined t
admire the apparent liberality-let u
say generosity-of DIR. Frantz's theor
Of legal administration, and we doubt nc
that he was moved by generous impuls
in making his statement, there lies be
hind it an evil possibility of ruinou
character; one ruinous alike to the in
divdual citizen and to the State. 1t /
possibly fair to say that the parents o
the nonresident pupils of our publi
schools are moved by an admirable re
gard for their children, in the matter o
securing for them the best educationa
advantages. But these generous emo
tons and admirable regards do not ex
cuse the violations of law, nor do the,
obviate the evils growing out of tina
violation. Good citizenship is obedience
to the law. And only the other day ther
appeared before the teachers of our Higl
School lecturer, teacher, if we ar,
not mistaken, who emphasized th
thought in an address.
Why should the theory of citizenship
as taught in our public schools be so a
variance with its practice in the admins
tration of public of1ice-in the admins
tration of law?