Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-12-04
cOmpuIsry School Laws.
EDlroR DRMooRAr;

paper both for and against the proposed
Compulsory School Law Were the
question not 10 serious the arguments Of
those opposed TO it would be amusing,
but they furnish abundant proof that
for a long time the Compulsory Law
has been needed.
We have In Tennessee compulsory
law that cOmpels all, including the
childless, wealthy and yeung men with
out families, to contribute literally to
the support of the public schools, and
there is no dispute about the right or
justice Of such law All must pay
or suffer the consequences If 1--WE have
the right to force payment for such a
purpose, we assume the consequent OBJ
legation Of seeing to It that the funds
so collected be used TO accomplish the
purpose Of their collection, the educa-
ton Of all the children TO 6t them for
their duties as citizens. And those who
pay this money have the right to demand
of the general public and the law ma
king power that these forced cOntribu-
tions do the work intended. The one
is the logical sequence Of the other.
Either we should stop collecting the
public school tax, or compel its use for
the ostensible purpose of its collection
in the enactment of law that will force
criminally negligent parents to send
their children to the schools provided
and thereby save them from the degra
dation of ignorance and consequent
poverty.
We educate as a necessary means of
self-protection and that is the first law
of Nature. If we lived under an ALSO
lutte despotism like that of Persia and
Turkey, the government might survive
even if the people remained ignorant.
But here it is different. All power is in
the hands of the people, and if they are
not fitted to properly exercise it self
government is failure. National, state,
county and municipal organizations
have undoubted right to do anything
necessary for self perpetuation, even to
compelling preparation for civic duties
If they cannot do this they are practi
callY powerless for good, And Tennes-
see, for its own protection, has the IN
doubted right to compel the education
of all its children, and if vicious or ig
norant parents refuse to take advantage
ofthe opportunities offered their children
the State has the right to interfere, even
to the extent of taking entire control
of such children and seeing to it thai
they are fitted for worthy citizenship
for the protection of the whole people
against the results of ignorance and
; crime.
The opposers of Compulsory School
Laws admit that sentiment is growing
in their favor OF course it is. The
world is growing better all the time
and the sentiment in favor of such laws
is evidence of the fact. Thoughtful
people notice that in many neighbol
hoods children are growing up in abst
lutte ignorance within hearing Of the
school bell, and the future of such
children is becomming matter of cor
Germ for the safety of society and the
costs Of the criminal courts. Every
year the laws bear down harder upon
criminals, and every one knows thai
the majority of young men convicted
and paying out hard earned money al
each session of the court in fines and
costs, have had little chance for school,
ing Many of them cannot read. and
their brea ches Of the laws are very otter
! the result of ignorance. Such are to bt
} pitied rather than blamed, and it be-
comes the duty of the general public
to protect itself against such by the en-.
; actment of laws that will send the off.
GERS of the law, if need be, into tn,
homes of those who can and will moi
educate their choldren, and compe
them to send to school. Many people
are poor because they are ignorant, and
the children remain ignorant because
of such poverty. Organized society ha.
the right to protect itself, using such
means as may be necessary, and the put
) lie school furnishes the means.
Some of the opposers are terribly a
: fraid private rights will be infringet
. upon by the proposed law. In organ
! lied society we surrender many persona
: rights for the general COED ofthe Who'll,
t including the right to educate or not
Just as it may suit our fancy, the chill
dran antrusted IN our care Tha m ainr