The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-10-19

tui ctlOOtc. 3CulldSt TIE
lot of the country child on his way
to school in winter with that of the
city child with only a few blocks Of
paved streets to walk. Our country
child. with satchel over shoulders
and lunch basket in hand. must leave
the cheerful freside of home from
half an hour to an hour before
school opens in order to be there on
time. The roads are wet and mud
dt many months OF the year The
country is open and the coid winds
axe unmerciful In their attacks up
on him. So that by the time lie
reaches the shool house. which Is
ioften unseientifcallv ventilated and
poorly heated. bis feet are 50 cold
and his body so chilled that he Is
unfit for study or recitation most Of
the day. and the exposure aud chill
ling Of the body invite pneumonia
and other diseases.
These conditions cause broken and
/ irregular attendance. They create
an aversion in the child for the
school room instead of pride IN
punetual attendance and studious ad-
vancement. Not only this. but a
mother hates to see her children trot
off to school two or three miles away
in cold. bad weather She fears
that tie injurious effects upon his
body from the exposure will do
! greater harm than the beneficial ef-
fects upon the mind will do good.
She realizes that vigorous mind
can only dwell in healthy body.
and that it would be misdireeted
exercise of maternal care to force
her children to school under condi-
tions of exposure which endanger
their bodily health.
Compulsory Education.
| Improved roads would be a great
factor In reducing the percentage of
illiteracy which exists throughout
the country. Our present illiteracy
can not be reduced to any appreci-
able extent except by marshalling all
of the children. both city and eoun-
try, into the school rooms. This
can only be accomplished by a sys-
TEN of compulsory education. Some
of our states have already passed
compulsory education laws and in
MANY other states the sentiment in
favor of such laws is so pronounced
as to indicate their early enactment.
These laws prove a blessing when
wisely framed and properly adj
ministered. There are no obstacles
I to their efficient administration In
our cities. Everybody is III close
proximity to the schoolhouses and
can easily reach them with but little
exposure inlthe worst weather. But
in the rural districts, the opposite
is true. If all Of the roads were In
good condition so as to remain high
and dry it would be possible to
successfully enforce such law even
In the rural districts, but with the
present condition of the most of the
roads, it is impracticable. And the
states in their efforts TO thus be-
stow blessing upon their children
would be attempting an unkind
benefaction for which they would
pay by resultant loss in the physi-
que and mental yigor of our future
generations
In addition, improved roads
would make possible a new system
of central schools, which would in
sure better schools at less cost
Some scheme could be devised fol
carrying the children to and from
school. which would be impossible
over our present bad roads and with
the small and badly located schools
In most country communities. II
would be possible under such a sys-
tenn for our school centrally located
to receive all of the children within
a radius of from four to five miles
This would make it possible to es-
tablish graded schools in all Of the
rural districts. Large and com
mOdious buildings could be provided
more competent teachers could be
employed. and all the modern facil.
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