The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-23
SATURDAY, JANUARY %, 1901.
The Public School System.

& ea,,oro, OF our contemporaries aH'o''a
+,,.m the Norfolk Virginian- r'io', -"
,raa+aomerv Advertiser and the Willinlne-
I'm Messenger, have comme2teu NO.
...,,rt article In these columns on ~
nuhl,o school system, and each O. 49,
has seemingly misunderstood me '''s'
IL, We have stated that as an
-,,..,,o+ nroposition, 1t ia undemocratio
- tax one man to educate another ''''' :
,,,,,drnn. we have stated that t''o pop
~ .choo, system is soclalistic, and tnht
,,~,,c,n,, Socialism and Democracy
"a as far removed as the East is lrp''
-. west. But, IN spite OF that 49,
a. organized government, whether :. ~
remocrat,c or otherwise there mus ~
80 or less, Of Socialism; there mus
!. an,o common institutions supporteu
= the public expenfe. Among these -
Tho public school system, because -
government like ours, It is pupl'c po.e.
= e have an educated citizenship any =
I. therefore, public policy for the gov
arnn,ent to maintain schools IN oFu't
.h.+ the children Of the poor may re-
ce,ve an education. The PUBIC so'oo-
.pstem is In that sense pubic necess''''
and every man who Is taxed TO suppo'''
), Gets an indirect benefit, whether of
not he has children to educate.
Nor this reason The Times Dispatcn
4s In favor Of the public educat'oh' a.'''
has done what it could to prornote .''e
.,nsc. But as the public school system
is socialistic, there is danger IN pus"'''s
80 ,r,ncinle too far, and 1t Is because
III. danger that we have time ana
/. Jain given warning. If we start W1tl d
socialistic principle, there is danger u
going, step by step, to extremes ota' :
ing out with the principle mat - 20
r,eht for the government to supply
schools and teachers for the education OF
the children, 1t is but step farther 10
the principle that 1t Is right TOT t'e
government to sapply books. and, II
hooks, clothing; and, II clothing food;
ond II these. all the rest. Starting OUT
with the principle that 1t Is right LOT
the government to educate the children
mentally, 1t is but a step farther 70 no'a
That It Is right for the government TO
undertake the moral instruction, and, II
tn, moral, the religious instruction. OF
al, the children who attend the schools
Starting out with the principle that It
is right for tbs government to compel
narents to send their children to school,
II IS but a step farther to say that the
government should control the children
altogether and stand to them In loco
PARENTS.
Finally, IL the government assumes
entire control over the children, provid-
Il tng for their support and providing foE
their education mentally, politically
morally and reugiously. VIC shall by ane
by have nation OF dependents. We shal
have a paternal government, and pater
nalism means Socialism.
Men may differ as to whether or no
the public school system is un-Demo
" cratic. but the,a can be no doubt tina
1t is Socialstic, and Its tendencies ar
dangerous. It will DO much good an
no harm II kept within reasonable bounds
but there are lurking dangers whlc
need to be closely watched by all VIII
3 believe in true Democracy, In Independent
self. e.liant Americ;ol manhood.