On the importance of raising Ireland to the level of England and Scotland in the matters of industrial schools and compulsory education

Abstract

The principle of compulsory education has a two-fold aspect: (1) It secures the education of the neglected and the helpless, and provides an organised means by which their education shall be provided and paid for. (2) When non-attendance at school arises from parental neglect, then the state steps in to enforce the performance of parental duty. (3) The enforcement of the parental obligation logically leads to a further benefit?the utmost tolerance in the organization of schools, because the object which the state proposes to itself is not the opening of schools which parents may or may not use, but the ascertainment whether or not children are educated. In other words, examination and ascertainment of results takes the place of providing endowment, and leaving the results to chance. Again, as there is to be the minimum of interference with parental liberty?only so much as is necessary to secure the result, it follows that all schools must be equally recognized by the state that attain the object of training up and educating the children.