The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-04-10
ON SOME OBJECTIONS TO
COMPULSORY EDUCATION
BY q. w. Cunningham, Department of Philosophy,
Middebury College, MiddIebury, Vermont.

have watched with growing interest
and pride the advances she has made
along educational lines during the
last ten years. The educational
growth of the county during this de-
cade has been remarkable. 1t is a
record Of which every lover of the
county, both in the state and out of
it, may we'll be proud. wish to
take this occasion tc express the
satisfaction which / have experienced
in following this growth and the
hope that the future may show even
more marked evidences of education
al expansion. That such a hope is
not in vain the present wholesome
interest in educational affairs is
ample guarantee.
l am also especially pleased to
see that there is a growing interest
throughout the state in the problem
OF compulsory education. To my
mind, this is one of the most hope
full signs for the future welfare of
South Carolina. 1 am firmly convin-
ced that a compulsory education law,
statewide in it's application, is what
South Carolina needs above every
thing else just now. Holding this
conviction, i deem it timely and ap-
propriate, now that have been ask
| Cd I,u 'nta 10 alyo
| a contribution to this educational
issue Of the Advertiser, to deal as
vigorously as 1 can with some OBJ
jections that are from time to time
raised in the state against the com
pulsory education system
| Presumably there are few individ-
uals in Laurens county, or in the
state of South Carolina, who would
seriously question the value of edu
cation in some form. All would
doubtless admit that at least elemen-
tary education is of the utmost i'm
portance in the life Of the state.
| Certainly, no one whose opinion
could be regarded as having any
weight at all would maintain the
contrary. Therefore I shall consume
no space with an argument for the
value OF primary and secondary
schools Their value is sun-clear
and is generally admitted as a mat
ter of course.
But not all seem to be willing to
admit that enforced attendance upon
these schools is desirable And this is
not without apparent justification. One
may feel that education is extremely
important and yet at the same time
conscientioushy maiBtain that com
pulsory education is to be avoided.
1t may be very we'll said, even by
one who believes education is essen
| tial to the welfare of the state, that
there should be no law compelling
all children between certain ages to
attend school during a specified num-
Der Of days each year. There are cer~
tain objections to the system of com
pulsory education which possess
weight even in the minds Of some
Of those who are firmly convinced
that education is basic to the we'll
being OF the body polite. Let us
examine some of these objections and
see what weight they really have.
One objection that is commonly
raised in opposition to compulsory
education is that it is un-American,
For the law to step and say to
parents that they must surrender
their claims upon their child for
certain number OF days each year is,
so the objection runs, contrary to the
spirit of the Constitution of the Unit
| cd States. Did we not fight to the
death at Bunker Hill for our liberty?
Did we not go through frost and
fire at Valley Forge and Yorktown
| in order to win our freedom? And
shall we now pass law taking from
the individual the very sacred pos
session for which our fore-fathers
suffered and died? Why, compulsory
education is directly counter to the
spirit OF the Revolution! Away
with 1t, away with It! We will none
of 1T! Give us liberty, or give us
death!
You have heard an argument, have
you not? I have. AS matter of
fact, 1t is the argument which is most
=