The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-19
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.

A few a ago there were very few
advocates of compulsory education IN
this state. Now it has a great many,
and their number is increasing rapidly.
The movement has been given great
impetus by the franchise amendment
to the constitution. Many persons who
did hot advocate it before now wish TO
see compulsory education established in
this state. if that is necessary to secure
a common school education for every
male white child coming of age by the
year 1905. at which time the grand
father clause OF the constitutional
amendment expires by limitation.
If illiteracy among the white children
of the state is not greatly decreased
in the next six years We will lose much
of the benefit expected to be derived
from that amendment. 1t has been a
greater incentive to the negroes than
10 the whites to acquire the education
necessary to become a voter. If the
white people cannot be induced to take
greater interest in voluntary education
and willingly help in wiping out Hitter
acy then the law will have to step in
and see to it that these White boys are
given the proper education.
Aside from the necessity for moro
general education in our state as a
measure of protection politically, the
IA against ignorance should be vigor-
ously waged until, in the matter of
education of her people, she has passed
from her present position very near the
bottom of the list of states to the top.
Our progress in industry and wealth is
wonderful. These are outstripping the
educational advance. This should not
be so.
Reports of enlarged attendance at
our colleges and higher schools this
year show gratifying increase in inter
est in this class of education. This
sentiment should pervade the whole
mass of u population. The impor-
lance of common school education
should be brought home to every one.
Without education in the lower
branches you cannot destroy illiteracy
among the masses. A common schoo
education to every man and woman in
the state would place her on a higher
plain than with colleges full of students
while hundreds are growing up in ig-
norance. The common school education
is the foundation upon which to build
true happiness and prosperity of the
people and without it we will make
slow progress, even if our colleges
higher schools are crowded with pupils.
Let the work of convincing the people
of the Importance of this class of edu-
cation go on until there is not a white
child in the state who cannot read and
write. When that time comes North
Carolina will take her place among the
states of the union which the other
qualifications of her people entitle her
to.
On this subject We take the following
editorial from the Franklin Times:
For years We have advocated COM
pulsory education. Long before the
1908 stimulus we saw that unless
somethink was lone to compel parents
to SEND their children to school there
would always be some children de-
pr1ved of an education. Some parents
are careless about educating their
children. others fail to appreciate the
value of this education, while Others
(and their name is legion) deliberately
keep the children away from school.
Because some grown folks have pros
pered without an education it does not
signify that their children will do the
same. If the children of educated
parents do not naturally reach the
plane of culture occupied by their
parents, taNd it is a we'll known TRUTH
much less will the children of ignorant
people do as we'll as their parents.
Some deprive their children of edu-
cational advantages in order that they
(the parents) may put them to work in
factories while they sit in id1eness-
by their children. If for no
other reason TT IN that it takes children
away from tf~ thankleSS task of sup
porting lazy T rents, we would ardently
advocate com nulsory education. There
are doubtless lines when a boy or girl
must help SUI port the family, but first
Work just : little harder, father.
mother, rath = than stunt your child.
rather than ] lin his chance for life.
AS well expect a merchant to do bust
ness withou. capital as to expect a
child to get along without an education.
The people mostly affected by a
compulsory education law would, as a
rule, Starve their child's mind were
there no law. Public spirited citizens
would swiftly mete out punishment to
a man who withheld food from his
child. What is to be done with the one
who starves and stunts a child's
mind"
McDufie's Little Blue Liver Pills
makes blue people bright, cleans the