Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-10-17
THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION

THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION
The American public school is un-
doubtedly one of our most important
Institutions No branch of government
comes more intimately into contact
with all of us, and so it is that
affairs relating to public education
are Of Importance to almost every
person.
Almost everywhere the government
provides schools for it's young citl-
zens Education is the function OF
the state, and so it is the state that
provides for public schools. The leg
islature enacts the laws which pro-
vide for those schools and by which
they are governed. The school dis
trict is a political subdivision of the
state, organized under state law.
One theory of the public school is
that a state provides schools in or
der that it's citizens may be trained
to become useful members of socje-
ty, capable of being self-supporting,
profitable members of the community
instead of burden to the state. 1t
is further recognized that intellect
ual enlightenment is necessary if our
democratic form of government is to
succeed. The future voter must be
educated. And SO it is that the state
not only provides free schools, but
further requires that residents with
in the school age attend school. An
other theory of public instruction is
that it is sort of mutual benefit
arrangement by which all join tOgeth-
er to share the expense and thus Sc
cure greater efficiency at a lower
relative cost
But whatever the theory or the
reason for the public school most par
ents desire that their children attend
school, and a majority of children
probably appreciate the advantages of
an education. So there is usually a
desire to attend school and the
question frequently arises as to the
rights of a child to attend school.
These questions frequently find their
way into a court of law.
Generally speaking child of
school age who is within the rules
of eligibility prescribed by law, and
is a resident within the school dis
trict is entitled to attend the public
school in that district without charge.
The school laws OF the state usually
fix upon the school authorities of the
district the responsibility of provid-
reasonable and convenient accommo-
dations and opportunity for instruc-
ton. These privileges are open to
all who are legally entitled to attend
the schools and who wish to do So
As has been before stated the
school system is conducted by the
state and so is within the control of
state law. So it is that the right
to attend school depends upon the
laws passed by the legislature. Under
the laws in force in most of our
states the right to attend the public
school depends primarily upon resi-
dence. The resident child may attend
the public school without cost; the
child who is not a resident may be
refused entrancea or may be charged
tuition. The residence of the child
is generally that of his parent or
guardian. The residence necessary
need not be legal domicile, but any
genuine residence of ordinary perma-
hence. If a parent moves into a school
district for the school season and
only for the purpose of allowing the
child to attend school in that dis
trict, the right will not be secured
and the child may be barred from
school as a nonresident, or tuition