The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-01
WEDNESDAY, MARCH !, 1905 ! US, u
Public Schools and Charity.

s a correspondent Of tho Queries and An l
swcrsE Department Of the Times-Disp tc q
M sends tie following III no settle 2 DIFF
fcronce OF opinion please say II the the
children Of q person who pays no taxes axe
arc sent to the public schools, can ~
be considered that stheyhrecelve their edu-
cation through charity for the reason reason
that the schools are kept up y S t ;alH
alton the same as other chart able IN
8fstitutions2 n 4 5ii. a sS, 81
@ Tjmpbatlcally no. Tho public school sy s.
# ten. Is In no sense, a public charity anu
those who hold sucl, u view are very
short sighted and lack intelligent dis
examination There are charitable instltu-
lions, maintained at the public expense;
but tho benefits of such Institutions are
mainly objective. They are maintained FOR
the benefit iof 1nfortunntes ind mot be-
cause they are beneficial to the State Or
4 to society. Tho government takes care or
lsjpaupers for tho sake of humanity. ~
#$ does not derive and does not expect TO
derive any material benefit from aims
houses, from hospitals for the insane or
other such Institutions. l would tfbe. u
disgrace for lis to allow unfortunate men,
n women and children to starre and 1T
b would be h d disgrace and sn 4 menace to
ALLOW insane persons to run at large, But
Il primarily VIC do not maintain eleemosy-
mary institutions for any material good
that We may derive from them no more
55,5 than that klnd-henrtcd man expects to
derive a material benefit from any act
ss of charity which lie MAY performs. s$5
But the case is radically different with
tho public schools. In a government like
81 ours tho education6of the masses is not
& only beneficial to society but IS abso-
3 lutely necessary to good government. !
& educating the masses We Increase the
earning capacity OF the people and i Is
an axiom that as wealth Is tho produc-
ton OF labor the greater the earning
capacity Of the people the greater oul
national wealth.
58 But apart from the material benefit
thus derived the morals of the people
arc improved by education, and especial
~ Is 1t true that in Il popular form OF
# government where the people do the vot-
Ing It is necessary that the voters be
educated. #
But II is,neealess'to consume space II
pointing out the benefits of popular, cdu.
cation. They arc well known and vel
recognized. 1t Is true that those who
receive education at the public expense
receive a benefit at the public expense
But 1t is equally true that the govern
Il mcllt itself also receives a benefit ant
ain enormous benefit from the public
school system AS the government gets
value. received and more than value re
ccivcd for every dollar expended on tn,
8s public schools 1t Is nonsense to say tina
Tile schools are maintained in any spin
OF charity,
We tell our correspondent and all vii,
may take the narrow view that # TIL
& public schools We're a mere charity, ]
the Taxpayers did not receive substantial
8 benefits from the public school system
4 il would be q most difficult thing,
N not an impossible thing, TO raise mono,
by taxation To maintain the schools, Bu
payers with the fact that popular ednca
tion is beneficial and necessary TO 900
sl,clcty and good government that Il
many States parents are required by la,
Il 10 send their children to school, and tn
sentiment in favor Of compulsory edu
cation is rapidly growing In The State q
Virginia. II were absurd to way that a
Intelligent government would compel II
children to receive an education At III
public expense II such education wer
# a mere charity, comforting benefit onl
Upon the persons receiving It,
Away with all such nonsense, tile bar
suggestion Is reflection upon the Who
scheme OF public education. Popular cdl
CATION lisa public benefit, a public bless
Inc and il public necessity,
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