The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-02-10
Wednesday Feb. 10, 1915.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION

COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
We have never been quite sure that
public schools were altogether advis-
able, and our doubts are somewhat
added to by the statement made in
'"The State" a few days ago, that the
percentage of those who signed by
their mark was greater on the Dem
Ocratic club rolls than on the muster
rolls of the Revolution. However,
it is now the settled policy of the
State to have public schools. There
ifs hardly chance that the system
will be abandoned at this late day.
1t remains therefore to lperfect the
system by such changes and regula-
tions, by such additional legislation,
and such additional requirements, as
the times demand.
Obviously the most logical position
for the taxpayer to take is that when
he has paid for universal education
of the masses, the education should
be general. When the taxpayer
without children pays his money to
educate the children of his less fortu-
nate brother, he has right TO expect
aQd demand the benefits>which such
education would guarantee. When
there are those so ignorant or so un-
mindful of their obligations to their
children as to keep them cut of the
public schools, how shall the tax
payer'and the State, as his agent, re-
ceive the consideration for which the
price has been paid, except by a law
which requires all children to attend
school for a certain number of days
in the year. When you admit the
Justice of public schools, and the ne
3cessity for them, you necessarily ad-
init the rightof the public to demand
attendance upon the schools. Any
other position is illogical.
The General Assembly is now
wrestling with the question. There
seems to be a majority in both houses
committed to compulsory education,
but some of the members Iseem to be
getting tame. Two plans are under
consideration,-the one puts COM
pulsory education law into effect
throughout the State, and allows GER
tain counties or school districts to
vote it out; the other plan is that the
law shall become operative in any
school district only on vote in that
district.
Compulsory education is either
good for the whole or good for no
part of the State. The people of the
State are of the opinion that it should
be adopted in the State. 1t is mani
sfest to the most credulous of persons
THAT if the question be submitted to
vote, those districts which are most
IN need of the system will vote
against it, while the districts where
The law is not needed, the people be-
ing already awake to their interest,
will adopt it. This is not the object
of the law. The last mentioned plan
above is the ruse of some clever pol.
itician to defeat compulsory educa-
ton, or the plan of one who is try
ing to satisfy both sides with his po-
sition. Any sane man knows that
the plan will amount to nothing.
The people of the State will not be
fooled. The members Of the legisla-
ture must vote for compulsory edu-
cation or against it, and a vote for
this district local option bill is a vote
against compulsory education and
the people will understand it.
There was time in the State when
we had representative government.
Men were sent 10 the legislature be-
cause they were thought to be lead
ers in thought and of superior ability
to the rest. In those days men had
backbones and legislated for the good
of the State. They neither sought to
hide behind primary elections or
"niggers." If the members of the
legislature have enough sense to get
home after adjournment they should
know that this is question to be de-
cided by leaders in thought in the
State, by representative men, which
they are supposed to be. Thapublic
will either take water, or take it
straight, but it wants no ''circus lem
onade" legislation on this subject.