The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-02-01
Senator Raysor's Plea for the
Little Children of the State.
MUST BE EDUCATED,
Tie Eloquent Speaker contended
that Compulsory Education Is
Needed as q Logical Necessity
Under Present Conditions
and Principles.
and Principles

ln-adyocatlng his compulsory edu
ca lion bill 10 the State Senate last
week Senator Raysor said:
1t IS cot necessary to discuss
either the value or necessity CT educa.
tien. The % ost sacred in TIE State and
to the State are her children, whether
thay be the children Of tn: rich or the
poor. They are the mcs5 5aluab;e un-
de e7eloped resources that she has. The
poorest child in the State is capable
Of enlightened, conscientious citizen
ship and useful and honorable life
il t is properly trained.
The pressing question with every
people is not what they have been,
bat what they shall determine to be;
nos what their ancestors wee, but
wtat their children shall be. It is
therefore the highest, the holieSt, duty
OF every State to see that the shackles
OF ignorance shall not be kept on any
potion OF its people; and just so sure
y as she falls short Of this high p.o
negative and solemn duty, just so
surely does she forge ohe chains OF her
own dependence to other and more en-.
Eghtened communities, in material
aod mental and moral power, and
eostly is the tribute money and humi-
Iatirg the dependence. The highest
honor In the history Of this common
wealth is that she has inaUgurateo
and Is sustaining and developing q
system Of education free to all her
children, and freest to the hunblest.
In 10 ether way can the greatest good
to the greatest number, the ideal OF
modern craftsmanship, be attained,
and in no other way can the uplifting
Of nations and individuals be accom-
plisbed. 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
out it no State or individual can 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, common school ed
ucation is not only absolutely essen
t.sl, but the highest training possible
Is becoming more and more intensih.
ed. Natural conditions 30 longer de-
ternlne results, but intelligence de-
termines the prominence Of nations
and individuals. Mere labor means
mere servitude, skilled industry every
where has the mastery.
ITO meet this condition it is essen.
tial that we develop such system Of
public instruction 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-
se2ce and conscience Of the State
should be equal TO the protection OF
these helpless ard unfortunate ones.
Nothing shcrt OF this will meet tie
conditions as they exist today in this
State. Nothing short Of this will be
fulfilling the duty the State owes to
herself.
THE State nuSt educate her chill
dYsn for the betterment Of toeir con-
6itions and fos hsr own protection.
She cannot afford to leave the e3uca-
ticn OF those who are to control her
destiny in the near future in the
bands OF parents OF others, who, from
ea-elessness or indifference, are, un-
willing to send their children to school
and deprive them Of the opportunity
to batter their conditions.
''Our condition is such as to demand
serious consideration. IL 1901 only
IS per cent. Of the white children Of
this State were enrolled il the schools,
the average attendance was Only about
43 per cent. Such 8. sta:e & afai:s
caano5 BE- long tolerated. These are
tha last statistics have oeen aole to
obtain. There has been {. gradual jn-
erase In the enrol nent OF children
ard it is to be hoped that The per
cent. has also increased. But tie num-
ber OF white children Whc do not at
tead any school is simply Alarming
ard calls for the enactment OF q COM
prisory law. 1t cannot be objected
that such a measure is an Infringe.
rnsnt upon parental rights. The argu.
msnt that it Is the parents right to
determine what education their child
rem shall have, if any at all, oTerlooks
entirely the right OF the child. Every
child has the right to have that
srcount Of education necessary to be-
ecroe a good cit.zen. The parent who
neglects to educate his child is unit
tc govern it. He is committing crime
against the State and society and Is
dt;ipg a great Injustice to the child.
''The children q this State csn be
taken by the courts from the care o.
q parent who is nanifestly unfit t
have charge OF them. The State has
always recognized its duty to protect
her children. II, high sense, it !!
a guardian to the child. The right
of the State to DO this is founded OF
the duty OF the State to pe:petuas'
itself by the care Of those who ar
tr,t re N:fiySnc Chi n