The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-19
sPop,uiar education.


Popular 2 ducation.
,rhc Richmond Education Association
had a fine meeting last night, and inc fr e..
rorts showed that the organization is con-
tInuing Under the Intelligent direction tprh Of
Mrs. 3, ID. Munford, the good work Tor
nbt,c education. which was begun ira
modest way several years ago. the as as
soc,ntion now has a membership OF nearly
4 900, ana is tho largest III point Of nun
bcr and one OF the strongest in point ITS OF
influence Of all tons IN this citSs
II is more than perfunctory orrganizut-,
tom IL is an organism, with life and nd spirit lt:
and, therefore, living activo force rec 81 3 :
is a rover for good, because it IS unset
fish and philanthropic. It has no axes
to grind" It docs not NEEDLE IN poll
Il tics: 1t does not seek to exploit indy
nor to promote the elfsh interests Of any
mar, or woman, It Is for the public good
1T is especially for the good OF the chill
dren. It is doing a splendid and inval,1-
able service for humanity and for tho
ii State. 81 4 sifl asS l#H
Tho Richmond Education Association de-
sires above all things that the children Of
L this city and Of this Commonwealth stal
have the advantages of good common
school education and many Of the Lead
ing members of the Organization are In,
favor o. compulsory etiucntior.5s In THIS
connection 3wo publish an able al gument
& l,y Ma jor James H. Dooley on that SUB
feet, and We submit that the argument
Is rnanswer;lblc. AS n man Of affairs e "a $
thoroughly practical business man and
II finuncier, as 4 man who has been sue
cessful in promoting great industries he
declares that In commercial and industrial
exploitation education is the all import
ant and absolutely necessary quaiifica-
ton. So essential to The welfare OF the
nation has 1t come to be regarded. says
4 lie, that government no longer leaves the
education OF the children to be provided
for BY the parent. but levies taxes upon
the property OF all Its citizens In order
that there may be schools at which all
childrcn-rch and poor. white and black,
native and foreign-may be taught. But"
Major Dooleyf goes onN st. is we'll estab-
lished that taxes may not under Just
and free government be levied upon the
property OF the rich man merely to benc-
flt5a poor man 81. his children. Tho rea-
son taxes are levied upon the property of
the rich to educate tho children OF the
poor is not, primarily, to benefit the
children, but to benefit the State by edu-
eating the children, because educated cit
liens are necessary to make d wealthy,
prosperous and powerful State"
This is especially true in u popular
form of government where the people do
the voting. 8
Major Dooley then points out that as the
law does not permit us to exercise the
option of paying or not paying the school
tax 1t should not let q parent exercise the
option of sending his child to school or
keeping the child In Ignorance at home.
Again Major Dooley makes u strong point
and one which is worthy of profound con-
siderution when he says that If the state
allows G5 per cent. OF the white children
to stay away from school there is not
sufficient justification for the tax. That
means that thoughtful men like himself
arc not willing to pay taxes for the sup
port of the schools II only s. per cent.
Of the white children are TO be regular at
tendants. In conclusion no has d word
TO say In reply to he contention that
compulsory education would be an in
frIngement on the personal rights and lib
prt nj "a fS In la 4 I, at
parents have not as absolute a right to
control and deal with their children as
+, Taxpayers have to control and deal will,
their property. THE latter" says he
lis unlimited while the former is limited
by he rights of the child and the rights
Of the State in the child. The child
has right to life. liberty and happiness
b unit Of tho State. The right OF tho
State TO make of II Il good unit or citi.
zen Is paramount to all the rights of The
parent. The State infringes upon oul
!, right Of property when II annually take;
IL portion of 1t for the support of tht
schools. BY the same paramount. soyer
eign right which II has to take our prop
erty for the good OF the whole comm,nit.
II may undoubtedly withdraw the chill
dren during school hours from the con
troll Of the parent II is the contention
Of The Tlmes-Dlspatch that The right
OF the child are 70 be considered az wei
AZ the rights Of the parent We hol
that the child has the right to The benefi
of an education which the State provides
and that the parent has no right i