The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-01-22
State Education: Trcfn a moral
Point Of View. Ap..

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how well formulated, or how we'll
regulated, needs no elucidation. And
since it is impossible to enact laws, or
adopt measures, conducive to the gen.
eral good of society, that will meet the
approval of all the individual members
of society, the most enlightened and
progressive nations have adopted the
rule of the majority. And while it is
evident that the rule of the majority is
not always wise or equitable, it is still
more evident that the majority has a
better right to rule than the minority.
Therefore, since the functions of gov
ernment cannot be limited; and since
the law of super r-organ1c-evolution is
but continuation of the law of or
ganic-eyolution in so far as society, in
order to escape disintegratjon, finds
itself under the necessity to conform
to new conditions. whenever they arise,
even as all other organisms have to
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extinction; and since the rule of the
majority is generally considered the
most equitable, because it approaches
nearest to the ideal form of govern
ment, il e., government of the people,
by the people, and for the people; it
seems we are justified in concluding
that the objections to state education,
on the ground offunctional limitations
of state, lose their cogency whenever a
majority of all concerned desire to
adopt state education, or as soon as it
becomes evident that society is con-
fronted by new conditions, to which it
must conform in order to retain it's
vitality.
II. Those who hold that parents
should have exclusive control over
their children in matters educational
as well as in matters that influence the
pliable minds of children in other, dis
similar ways, lose sight of one impor-
tant fact: The welfare of the children is
biased in forming opinions concerning
their children. We have so many bad
boys and girls because so many parents
are incapable of properly bringing up
children. Children are not the exclu-
sive property of their parents. The
child is under no special obligations to
its parents. All the laws and customs
OF the world to the contrary notwith-
standing, parents have no moral right
to compel the obedience of their chill
dren. On the other hand, the state has
the right to enforce compliance with
established laws. In civilized coun-
tries it has become an established rule
that parents may be deprived of the
control of their children whenever it
becomes clear that the results from
such control will, or may, prove 3etri-
mental to the welfare of the children.
or society. The home influence is by
no means at all times conducive to the
growth of morality And while state
education need not necessarily inter-
fere with plans formed by parents, but
will, aud must, whenever possible, CO.
operate with the parents for the vel
fare of the children, yet, if occasion
should arise, the state not only may, but
should interfere-if the welfare of So
ciety as whole demands it.
III. Whether the state has the right
to tax one citizen for the purpose of
educating the children of another citi-
zen, seems at first approach a difficult
question to handle But the difficulty
disappears as soon as we examine the
Fundamental principle of taxation.
The state levies taxes, having in view
some end, the accomplishment of which
will be beneficial to the people at large,
or a great portion of them. We hold
that it is wrong to tax the many for
the benefit of the few, and that, con-
trariwise, it is right to tax all the peo-
pie for purposes having tendencies to
enhance the well-being of the people.
Taxation on the plan here indicated
has long been, and is now, in force in
every civilized country under the sun.
All the people are taxed for the main
tenance of armies and navies; for pay