The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-02-03
\ Senator Raysor's Plea for the
Little Children of The State.
MUST BE EDUCATED. .
The Eloquent Speaker coutended
that Compulsory Education i.
Needed as a Logical Necessity
Under Present Conditions
and Principles.
and Principles.

and Principles.
In--advocating his compulsory edu,
cation bill In the State Senate last
week Senator Raysor said:
Ut Is not necessary to discuss
either the value or necessity of educa-
tion. The most sacred in the State and
to tho State are her children, whether
they be the children OF the rich or the
poor. They are the NEST valuable un'
developed re sourcs that she has. The
poorest Child in the State Is capable
Of enlightened, conscientious citizen.
ship and a useful and honorable life
II 1t Is properly trained.
THE pressing question with every
people is not what they have been,
but what they shall determine to be;
not what their ancestors were, but
what their children shall be. 1t is
therefore the highest. the holiest, duty
OF every State to see that the shackles s
OF ignorance shall not be kept on any
portion Of its people; and just so sure
ly as she falls short Of this high p.o
negative and solemn duty, just so
surely does She ;Crge tic chains CT her
own dependence to other and moro en-
lightened communities, in material
and mental and moral power, and
costly Is the tribute money and humi-
lia5iDg the dependence. The highest
honor in the history OF this common-
wealth is that she has inaugurated
2,and Is sustaining and developing
sy,clo,yHof .~Sucaticn. free to all her
childrGs, and freest to the huublest.
1.,p 4, Il
to the greatest number, the ideal Of
modern craftsmanship, be attained,
and il no other way can tie uplifting
OF nations aud individuals be accom-
pliGEod. What may follow universal
education In the destiny OF people
Is not given to me to lift the veil and
know, but this ] do know, that with
Gut 1t no State or Individual ca d enter
into the fullness and the power OF this
opening century with It's heritage o.
possibility and promise.
!. Under. the complex conditions OF
our modern life, a common school ed.
ucation is not only absolutely essen
p tial, but the highest training possible
1s becoming more and more intensii
ed. Natural corditit ms no longer de-
termlne results, but intelligence de-
termines the preeminence Of nations
aid Individuals. Mere labor means
mere servitude, skilled Industry every
where has the mastery.
ITO meet tbS condition 1t Is essen.
t1al that we develop such system OF
public inst rucLion as will reach every
Child. The State cannot afford to per-
nit any Of her children to grow up
ignorant. II parents and others who
have the custody of children fail In
their duty In this regard, the intelli-
gence and conscience Of the State
Should be eqaal 10 the protecticn or
these helpless and unfortunate ones
Nothing short OF this will meet the
conditions as they exist today in this
State. Nothing short Of this will be
fulfilling the duty the State owes to
herself.
The State mu educate her chil-
dren for tie bettcrm9nt II tDeir con
ditions and for her own protection.
She cannot afford to leave the educa-
tion Of tho.e who are to control her
destiny In the near future In the
hands OF parents or others, who, from
ca1elessness or Indifference, are un
b
aud deprive them Of the opportunity
to better their conditions.
Our condition Is such as to dema I'd
serious consideration. In 1901 only
5S per ceLt. OF the white children OF
this State were enrolled In the schools,
the average attendance WAS only about
43 per cent. Such state of afr.lls
canrOt b., long tolerated. These are
toe last statistics | have been able to
obtain. There has been gradual in
crease In the enrol ment OF Chi, ,dren
and 1T IL to be hoped that the per
cent. has also Increased. But tho num-
be OF white children who do not at
tend any school is simply alarming
and calls for the enactment OF a clm-
pulsory law. 1t cannot be OBI ,cted
that such measure is an infringe
n1Gnt upon pal entail rights. T he argu-
mint That it is the parents right TO
determine what education their child
rsn shall have, il any at all, overlooks
entirely the right OF the child Every
child has the right to have that
amount Of education necessary to be-
cone good citiz n. The parent who
neglects to educate bis Child is unfit
to govern 1t. lie Is committing crime
against the State and society aud is
doing great Injustice TO the child.
The children IF this State can be
taken by the courts from the care OF
parent who is manitestly unit tu
htve charge OF them. The State has
always II lcognlzed IT. duty to protect
her childrcn. In high sense, 1t is
q guardian to the child. The right
of the State to d. thi3 is founded On
the duty Of the State to pcrpetuaJe
itself by the care OF those who are
hereafter tc constitute it, citizenship
II would te an anornaly for the Law
TO interfere for the childs physical
w.lfare, SO it is constantly Going, and
hive nothing to say Cf It's intellectual
aid moral welfare. No government
cou'd exist where no children attond-
&C school, and no State can allow hel
highest and best interest, her child.
rem, to grow up in ignorance.
The duty OF the State does not
cease when she has provided school
facilities for all her children. L par
c1Its or others who have the care OF
children, will not avail themselves OF
these opportunities, it Is the duty o!
the State to compel them to do SO.