The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-23

forcement on tho ground OF vhgueness
md tho obvious lack OF oven distribution
Of wenlth (see Il BIZ Com. 46o-4bt, and
2 Kent d Cons 1859 s 81 n q
81 Now, instho bsencc OF common law on \
tho subject, md III the light Of the patent
fulfil v of effectively operating any mere
moral 81 duty,# what s8-thn attitude bk
our municipal law In tho tinted States
ana what nro The proper limits OF gov-f
scrninental control In matters educational
THAT the question suggested is ono Of
moro than Nero academic interest, we
flect6tlnt there IRE now incur common
schools some sixteen million cliildren,
Tho grcnt proportion OF whom wiilshevnrg
goEto any college. (sec the report Of he
Com OF l1d.s 1uly 1908, and Robert 1itnt.$
er,s 5hPoVtrty," page 22l.) AS shown by
Mr. Hunter tho work OF tho common
schools IL tho work OF paramount if1,por-
the inilions into citizens, while tho great
est college can only liopo TO mako her
hundreds or her thousands Of students
into men. M !. " 5 4. IA
rhere would seem TO be no question but
that compulsory edlicntion, In 80 far as
generally essnycd III this country lis q
Legitimate exercise Of governmental at.s
thorlty. In many OF our States compu!-
sorry education inwH have been passed.
Butsit may bo said thatS every legislative
uttcrnnce In the form OF a statute is not
valid law This is true, but we reply
TINT tho laws In question have, IN fact.
stood the test Of judicial scrutiny ana
| have beel, upheld In tho courts as being
constitutional, and MS being q valid cx s'
5ercisc of the police power sor the pro-
lection 81 the general welfare Of minors.
| (sec state vs.. Bailey. 1850 Ind, 1874, ctco
These cases proceed on the very proper
theory that the rights OF the pn:eht to
control tho child arc subordinate to tho
power Of the State In certain matters.
IN Massachusetts the desired end ils
largely attained BY a statute forbiddlnE
employment OF children except on proof
I Of attendance at school for$a prescribed
period OF twent W weeks. This law also
provides for ago and schooling certifi-.
Gates" (seo. IN general Mass. Rev. ~
Laws. Oh. 1869 $ s3i
In Connecticut. twenty fr.ir weeks for
children under thirteen years, and twelve
weeks In every year for children between
thirteen and fourteen are required. THIS
law also requires that children between
seven years and sixteen years OF ase
must attend the public school Of their
propnr district during the hoursFands terms
Of It's regular session. unless the parent
or person having: control OF tho child can
show that there. is an equivalent In pri-
vate instruction both ms regards time and
subjects taught (Genls, Stats. OF Conn.
IN New, York state the period is four
teen weeks In every year.. (Sce New Y ork
Laws. 1876, Oh. S72)
Now what Is the written law in Vlr-
ginia The Constitution Of Virginia. sec
ton 1873, says the Genera! Assembly. In
Its discretion. may provide for the
| compulsory educat ton OF children between
the ages OF eight and TIVE I've years, except
l#such as are weak in body or mind, or can
read and write, or are attending private
schools, or are excused Tor cause py inc i
district school trustees.
Section 1879 OF our Constitution says that
| provision shall be made TO supply chill
| dren attending tho public schools with
| necessary text books In cases where the
parent or guardian Is unable. by reason
OF poverty, to furnish them. 9lg
BY way OF giving practical effect TO
| section 1879 OF the Constitution, the State
Legislature has provided that It shall be
| among the duties OF the district boards
| OF school trustees TO decide what chill
|5dren Wishing to inter tho schools OF y ne
district should by reason OF the povery
| OF their parents or guardians receive text
books free OF charge and to provide for
supplying them accordingly. (See Codo OF
Va, section 1866 (D.) And see also sec
ton 1885 (5)#va. Code, imposing a similar
| duty on school trustees in cities.
We find that our General Assembly has
| not as yet passed any statute In regard
| to compulsory education within the age
limits authorized by the section OF the
Constitution referred TO (const OF Va.
section 1887. That such a statute. declara-
tory Of tho mind OF our organic law Will
| In the near future be passed, wc very
much hope
Aside from the authority expressly con-
ferred on our Legislature SO to enact
we are convinced that such law would
be a valid exercise OF a benlgnant pater.
nalism within such limits as are con-
ceded to be within the proper sphere
of State action.
And we further believe that such
law would be happily conducive to the
| best interests Of our people In general,
our well planned school system in Viz
ginia.
We have wisely enacted In Ibis State
that children under twelve years OF age
shall not be employed In any manufat-
turing, mechanical or mining tons
(Acts lo02-3-4 p. 2ss; Coda Of Virg, MIA.
the children Of tendFr age out OF our
factories, as is demanded by every
| dictate OF common sense and right.
Having ruled them out of the wrong
sphere. now let US rule them INFO the
fright by having our statute law take
u hand and assign them to the school
where they belong a5s
The nat and the tenement house have
In part deprived the latter-day children
| Of home. and in some Of tho great
cities the factory tends to thrust upon
| him undue economic burdens. and 80 Il
is that the school OF tomorrow VII
be called on to supply place that VIII
be Complementary to "home' and con-
tribute to his welfare In moro .senses
than the purely intellectual one.f +.
But everything cannot be done Yin q
day. At all events, lot us SEQ 10 It
/ that the children In our midst get now
such amount OF schooling as they ought
to have and are Intended to have, M,
July 81. 1905. N
/ Woman Saved BY Skins Of Frogs.
A most remarkable operation was par
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