Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-30
Three Worthy Tasks
For the Legislature.

Among the important subjects awaiting the
tention of the General Assembly which convenes
today there are three of especial momenI-compul-
sorry school attendance, simpler and safer sys-
TEN of land titles and State highway commits
sion This by no means exhausts the calendar of
praiseworthy and needful measures, but the enact
ment of these three will constitute record of
broad and enduring service
Because of its bearing upon the very sources
of good government and efficient citizenship, COM
pulsory education is the paramount issue. There
should be no need of arguing the principles of a
law which has been adopted in one form
other BY every State in the Union except two
Mississippi and Georgia. The worlds enlightened
thought and conscience have accepted the princi-
pie of compulsory education axiom of polit-
icaI and social justice.
Here and there, it is true individuals still deny
the right of the State to protect itself against il
Hteracy and the right of the child to be protected
against the robbery of its birthrIght However,
sincere they may be, opponents of compulsory
education are. in effect. upholders of compulsory
ignorance They jealous of private privileges
but strangely indifferent to public rights. They in
sist on the liberty of the parent but they would
sacrifice the freedom of the child.
They ignore the fact that illiteracy is not only
misfortune to the individual but also menace
to the community. Under our plan of govern
ment the people are the State; they elect its Off
GERS determine its policies, and decide issues of
the gravest concern to property and human inter-
ests How essential then, that they be prepared
to make just and righteous use of this tremendous
power!
According to the latest federal census one-ffth
of Georgfa's population is lliterate and than
thirty thousand native whites cannot read the bal
lots they cast That is the penalty the State now
paws for having neglected its duty in the past But
far more significant and regrettable than these
figures are those submitted in the annual report of
Superintendent Britain, showing that one hundred
and sixty-nine thousand. six hundred and thirty
Georgia children of school did not attend school
a single day last year. The great majority of them
will grow up in iIiteracy. unequal to the duties of
citizenship and the higher duties of the home,
less the State intervenes to vouchsafe their right.
and its own right. against parental indifference
and greed
Georgia no longer should bear the shame of be-
ing one OF the only two States in the Union which
have failed in this great obligation. As a matter
OF practical wisdom as well simple humanity.
the LEGISLATURE should enact a compulsory school
attendance law without further parley, and as the
natural corollary to such a law it should take at
least the initial steps toward providing free text
books in the elementary grades.
Another pending bill of deep concern to public
interests is that providing for simpler and safer
system of land titles The passage of this measure.
which was prepared by exceptionally competent
commission appointed by the preceding Legislature,
win save vast deal of time and cost in the exami-
nation of titles, will make Georgia real estate
sounder and reader basis of credit and will estab
fish new and invuInerable safeguards to the right
full ownership of land. The distinctive merits of