The Tupelo journal., 1903-01-30
SOVTH ERN
EDUCATION
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE.
The Eradication of ~Iiliteracy One Q
the Best Arguments In Fa-
v0r of 1t.

The best schools will never eradi-
cate the evil of illiteracy until there
is an effective attendance law in every
state. To be effective the law must
be compulsory, with sufficient penal
ties to cause it to be obeyed. This
has been the experience of all other
states and countries, and we may not
expect a different result here in the
south. The sooner we profit by their
example the better.
At present Austria, France, En-
gland, Scotland, Hungary, Italy, Nor
way, Sweden, Denmark, the Swiss
cantons, the German states, British
Columbia, New Zealand, Prince Ed
ward island, Tasmania, Queensland,
South Australia, the provinces OF
Canada and thirty-two of the United
States nave compulsory attendance
laws. With a few minor exceptions,
these laws require attendance six,
seven or eight years, from twelve
weeks to ten months annually. In all
the states in which such laws have
been enforced longer than twenty
five or thirty years the percentage of
illiteracy has been reduced to a min
imum. These states Ind countries
contain a population of more than
two hundred and fifty million people,
the freest and most progressive in
the world-more than eighty per cent.
of all the people we call enlightened
and progressive. OF the thirty-two
American states having such a
law only two-Kentucky and
West Virginia-are southern states.
But what has been good
for all these great states
and countries will probably not prove
otherwise for us; and it is noted with
pleasure that the sentiment in favor
of such a law is developing rapidly in
all parts of the south.
The following seems to be a fair
summary of the arguments for cum
pulsory school attendance:
1. Universal education is essential
to the material, intellectual and moral
welfare of the state. 1lliteracy is a
burden and constant menace to pub
lie morals and civil liberty, and
threatens the very existence of the
state. The state provides schools at
public expense, collecting money for
their support by law, and by force if
necessary. 1t therefore has a right
to enforce attendance, that its money
may not be wasted and hat its in
terests may be protected.
2. individual welfare depends on
the general welfare. Having taken
the money of n man to educate the
children of another, the state must
protect that man and his children
from the oppression and dangers of
illiterate neighbors and fellow-citi-
zens.
8. Children have rights as well as
parents, and the state must protect
them in their rights. Chief among
these is the right to such education as
will enable them to live useful and
happy lives and become intelligent
and self-supporting citizens. The i'm
portance of this right and the neces.
sity of it's being recognized increase
as competition becomes more fierce,
the use of machinery more common,
the demand for intelligent labor
greater, government more democrat
ic, religious liberty more perfect, and
the obligations of the individual to
himself, his family, his country, and
the world more complex and binding.
Especially must it be regarded in
those states in which the right of
suffrage depends on educational quail
ification.
a. Such a law can not interfere
with any right of PARENTS; for no
parent has a right to make a slave of
his child or to rob it of the oppor-
tunity of gaining an elementary edu-
cation. Parents who would commit
this crime against their children
should be restrained and punished.
Such a law can not be q burden to
those who would educate their chill
dren without it. AS the laws against
stealing are not burdensome to hon
est men, so a reasonable compulsory
law can not be ~burdensome to pa
rents who desire to deal honestly and
justly with their children.
s.. The experience of other states
and countries has demonstrated that
such laws may be made effective, and
that they need not work any hardship
on individual citizens.
Teachers, school officers, and all
leaders of thought in the south must
begin and continue to cultivate senti-
ment on this subject, until just laws
are on the statue books and are prop
erly enforced.