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

CdLiOtl DlIl III UQe SudGS SGuaCo IDS u
week Senator Raysor said:
1t Is not necessary to discuss
either the value or necessity of educa-
tion. The most sacred in the State and
to the State are her children, whether
they ia the children Of the rich or the
poor. They are the mCst valuable un'
developed resourcs 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
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
rc.et!Ye sud suirmn duly, jusi SO
surely does she forge the chains Of her
own dependence to other and moro en-.
ligltened communities, in material
and mental and moral power, ard
ctstly is the tribute money and humi-
lia1ipg the dependence. The highest
honor in the history Of this common-
wealth is that she has inaugurated
o,and Is sustaining and developing a
syIcIo Aof .a,..uca tiCn. free to all her
chiloru 9, <and freest to the huublest.
In no other way can the greatest good
to the greatest number, tile ideal Of
modern craftsmanship, be ATTAINED
and in no other way can tie uplifting
Of nations aud individuals be accom-
pliHEed. What may follow universal
education In the destiny OF people
is not given to me to lift the veil and
know, but this i do know, that with
Gut 1T no State or individual ca enter
into the fullness and the power OF this
opening century with its heritage o.
possibility and promise.
lInder.-th complex conditions OF
I our modern life, common school cd
uca.tion Is not only absolutely essen
tial, but the highest training possible
is becoming more and more intensiti.
ed. Natural corditiC us no longer de-
termlne results. but intelligence de-
termincs the prominence of nations
and Individuals. Mere labor means
mere servitude, skilled industry every
WDoIe UdS lIl0 mastery.
To meet this condition 1t Is essen.
tial that we develop such sy stem OF
public inst ructlOn as will reach every
child. The State cannot ford to per-
miD any OF her children to grow up
ignorant. II parents ard Others who
have the custody uf children fail In
their duty in this regard, the intelli-
gence and conscience Of the State
Should be equal 10 the protection 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 nnu eGucatc her chill
dren for tie bettcrment Lf tler con
dltions and for her own protection.
She cannot afford to leave the educa.
tion of thoae who are to control her
destiny in tie near future In the
hands Of parents or others, who, from
ca1elessness or indifference, are un
willing 10 send their children to school
and deprive them Of the opportunity
to better their conditions.
Our condition is such as to dema I'd
serious consideration. In 1901 only
90 per cert. OF the white children OF
this State were enrolled In the schools,
the average attendance WAS only about
43 per cent. Such 4 state Of afrais
cannot b. long tolerated. These are
too last 8, ,atistics have been able to
ob.ain. There has .een !. gradual in.
crease In the enrol ment OF children
r iu tn ho -,
cent. has also increased. But the num-
be: OF white children who do not at
tend any school is simply alarming
and calls for the enactment or a m
pulsory law. 1t cannot be ohjhcted
that such q measure is an infringe
nlGnt upon pal alantal rights. 7 he argu.
mGnt that it Is the parents right TO
determine what education their Child.
ren shall have, If any at all, overlooks
entirely the right OF the child Every
child has the right to have that
amount Of education necessary to be-
come good citiz n. The parent who
neglectS to educate bis Child is unfit
to govern 1t. He Is committing crime
against the State and society and is
dcirg great iI Justice to the child.
The children Of this State can be
taken by the courts from the care OF
parent who Is manitestly unit t.
have charge Of them. The State has
always +, cognized it, duty to protect
htr children. In high sense, IT Is
guardian to the child. The right
OF the State to 90 rhi3 is founded IN
the duty of the State to prrpctuaJe
itself by the care OF those who arc
hereafter tc constitute it, citizenship
1t would he an anomaly for The Law
to interfere for the child's physica
w:lfare, as 1T is constantly GonR, ant
hive nothing to say Cf It's intollectua
aid moral welfare. No government
ecu d exist where no children aGtond
&C school, and no State can allow hel
highest and best interest, her child
ren, TO grow up IN ignorance.
The duty OF the State does not
cease when she heB provided schoo
facilities for all her children. II par.
cIits, or others who have the care OF
children, will not avail themselves ol
these opportunities. it Is the duty Of
tie State to compel them to do So
Where there Is not found sufficient
motive on tho part OF the children
themselves to attend school, which Il
rarely the case, or where parents have