The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-19
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Sensible Talk by the Editor OF the
GreenvIlle MoRntaAneer.
Greenville Mountalneer, Feb. 5th

The Senate acted in the interest OF the
whole people when IL killed the bill 10 CO III
pei atten dance upon the public schools. The
white population OF South Carolina is not
ready for such drastic measure In regard TO
the education OF their children, and we doubt
whether they will reach the point In many
ears when such d feature OF paternal govern.
ment will commend itself TO their approving
Judgment. Aside from The principle involved
10 this proposition, which takes away from
The parent the control OF his child IN It's ear.
lier years, The State ought not TO be plunged
lu,o turinoIl and disseDson by any such
means. The public schools are making fairly
good progress 10 giving primary education TO
the masses, aud gradually the parents are
increasing their sppr.clu tton OF the oppor.
tunities afforded by the schools, but the PRO
gressive" co e:ement in our State is not con-
tent with moderate aud conservative advance.
ment OF our educational policy, and they are
Injecting new and irritating plans into the
system. such MS compu sorry attendance and
progress now beiLg made rather than accom-.
plish the ends they are aiming at.
The Senators who favored the bill seemed
TO lay much stress upon the fact tnat the ne
groes are taking more interest In education
han the whites, and they are fearful that the
latter will be distanced In the race, yet they
do moi take into confederation the fact thai
compulsory laws will only add to this dilem'
ma. If it be true. They are also anxious To
have the whites get their share OF the public
funds, and urge this as reason why the
" hite children should be compelled TO attend
he schools forgetting the fact that hundreds
rents are pay Ing large share Of the taxes 10
support the public schools. are In attendance
upon private schools In the towns and cities,
while other hundreds and thousands of white
children are aiding their parents In making a
living for the family. They also insist that as
The State leylslates for the physical health OF
the children 1t Is right and proper to take
care OF their mental training, unmindlng OF
the fact that the State does not take charge OF
their physical well-being except as IL relates
To the well.beipg OF others, when II compels
vaccination and the like. 1t does not provide
that doctors shall be employed when children
get sick. nor that medicine shall be given.
How can this apply TO their mental improve.
ment? Surely the Senators cannot Imagine
for moment that mental training necessa-
rily improves the morals of any people. Let
them com pare the negroes who are making
such wonderful progress In their estimation
with the negroes who were trained In slavery,
and the moral status Of the present genera
tion will fall to show any adequate growth
when the vast expenditure for their improve
ment Ia weighed In the balance.
II is q mistake to suppose that white su-
premacy In this State In dependent upon the
schools, or the ability TO read and write. The
State was not redeemed from allen hands by
bis means, nor will IL 60 back into the pos
session Of an Inferior race on this account.
The treachery and avarice OF white men who
are willing TO unite with negroes for political
gain caL alone bring about such a disaster,
and our leaders should be more concerned for
the political nealth Of the State than under.
King to rule the people With a rod OF iron
when dealing with educational and indus
trial questions. There wns lar more liieracy
among the whites In 1876 than at the present
dav, and 1t Ia not alarming, as Senator Barn.
we'll has coutended that there are IS 900 white
voters scattered In our forty counties who
cannot read or write. This numb Der will grow
less every year, and political division among
the whites will never increase their illiteracy
The greatest da nger will come. not from lack o
school training, but from the corrupt and de
grading practices that will be introduced tc
sway the negro vote, and 1t will not be avoid
ed by such methods ms compulsory education
AT any rate let the white people be consulted
before the State IL committed 10 this policy.