Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-05-18
Compulsory Education And Child
Labor Laws.

In the SENTINEL May 4th there is a strong
appeal by Mr.. Frank Buck Livesey for the
immediate and permanent repeal of the
above laws. As this issue is forced upon
us with every argument and influence at
the command of its advocates, it is i'm
perative that the friends of the children
and the future welfare of our county arise
at once in their defense.
We all appreciate the problem of farm
labor, and the present world situation has
surely increased the difficulty. Undoubtedly
the children's labor would be tremen-
dous help it is such simple and obvious
way of meeting the situation that we are
strongly tempted to snatch the helpless
children and throw them into the breach.
The governors or legislators, however, that
degrade themselves and the humanity of
our people by sacrificing the children until
the last man and woman has been con-
scripted will be deservedly infamous.
Why should the farmers children and
the children of few other classes be
doomed to illiteracy while the remaining
children of the country enjoy the privi-
leges of education2 There is at this mo-
ment in the United States plenty of adult
labor to meet all our needs, and the war
situation which confronts us 1t only re-
quires to be adjusted That the adults
should stand selfishly aside and demand the
sacrifice of the children is a monstrous crime
The useless and wasted labor in all our large
cities is enormous. Washington has multi
tudes Of people employed in building opera
| tons while ten per cent. OF the present
buildings are unused. We could shut down
for the period Of war our pleasure automo-
bile factories and release vast numbers of
high-class workmen. These are mere sam
pies among thousands of other similar con-
ditions 1t is the old curse which we see
cropping up whenever it is tolerated of en-
richine the powerful by ignorant. helpless
and underpaid labor; we have had peonaee
in the Southern lumber camps. contract i'm
| migrants. etc. ETC.. to contend with in the
past. and we will not tolerate this outrage
upon the children now. When the adults of
any country sacrifice their children to save
their souls or bodies. that nation is doomed
and the quicker the end comes the better.
Mr.. Livesey says compulsory education
destroys parental authority. 1t is evident
on the face Of 1t that the opposite is true.
The parents under our school attendance
law must now maintain uniform condi-
ton: reasonable standard generally and
wisely kept up is not questioned by the
normal child. and the authority Of the State
behind the parents adds double weight to
their authority.
He also says that the most deplorable
conditions among the children exist in
cities where they have the best education.
Is this an argument against all education I.
or is there an inferior kind or limited
amount that might be safely allowed
Some other kind of argument will be needed
in Montgomery county
We are not. he says. to have any more
| compulsory legislation. To eliminate the
compulsory element from our laws would
leave US in the condition desired by the
anarchist. What is evidently meant is
Where and how far has the State a right
or can il wisely 90 in the matter of COM
pulsory legislation Has it a right to step
in between parents and children 1t has
the right to maintain its existence, and
the standards set up by the majority of
| the people it does not tolerate crime which
Injuries or menaces these things, and 1t
cannot tolerate ignorance which is equally
dangerous. II is well esta blished fact that
general and sufficient education Is neces-
sary to the existence of free government.
cannot speak for other counties, but
do know that the attendance law in Mont
gomery county is administered with wis
dom and all due consideration for special
situations. such as sick mothers. etc.
In the State of Maryland in 1914 less
than three-fourths of the children of school
age were enrolled in the public schools, as
some were in other schools a small per
centase should be deducted from this the
difference between white and black was
negligible. The average attendance of
those enrolled was about sixty-five per
cent. Is it any wonder in 1910 Federal
statutes show our beloved State to be
twenty-third among the States in illiteracy.
We were practically classed with the black
belt. 1t was estimated that more than
one-third of our school taxes were wasted
for want Of proper attendance and still
worse, terrible loss to the real wealth OF
the State through such a multitude OF
ignorant citizens. over fifty per cent. of
the children did not reach the fifth grade.
and the number completing the high
school course was deplorably small. as
sert that fifth-erade education Is not
enough for successful farming. nor is it
sufficient for the maintenance Of a real
democracy.
The farmers attain the highest success
in this and every other country where they
are best educated. Farming needs more
than ignorance and labor. II the farmers
have enough education TO appreciate the
situation. they will resent any effort to
condemn their children to iliteracy and
inferiority.
There Is no other occupation besides
farming that affords the average man the
splendid opportunity to be an all-round.
well-developed man. There is no limit to
the knowledge he can use effectively In
his work. Education. and still more edu-
cation, is the great need of the farmer in
order that farming may become the rock
foundation of our national life.
The new position which farming is
taking amongst US is going to solve the
farm labor problem and many others be-
sides. We are having the importance
Of the farm driven home to US now