102 



best efforts to comply with tbe law— and without the law, I 

 think the parents would have defeated me in getting their 

 children to school, but they now find that they are liable as 

 well as myself, and I shall have their cooperation in bringing 

 about the desired result. I shall be pleased to see you at any 

 time, and have your advice and suggestions in regard to 

 educating the children." The sincerity of this declaration was 

 evinced by the order promptly given to the overseers, " enforce 

 the law for the schooling of children, even if its observance 

 should stop the mill." If this superintendent was the greatest 

 sinner, he now bids fair to be the best saint in our " canon" of 

 employers of children. 



Whatever may be true in monarchical governments, in our 

 country there is every motive to kindness and conciliation in 

 the execution of this law. Our plan is truly democratic, for 

 its entire management is by the people and for the people, 

 through school officers chosen by the people and responsible 

 to the people, and hence commands popular sympathy. It is 

 not pressed upon the people by some higher power, but is their 

 own work, embodying their judgment and preferences. The 

 old form of compulsory education which existed in Connecticut 

 for more than a hundred and fifty years was not forced upon 

 the people as "subjects." It was rather a living organism, of 

 which they as "sovereigns" proudly claimed the paternity, 

 growing up with their growth and recognized as the source of 

 their strength and prosperity. After the utmost use of kind- 

 ness, tact, and persuasion, and every efi'ort to awaken a dor- 

 mant parental pride, and showing that education will promote 

 their children's thrift and happiness through life, we find that 

 such persuasions are the more effective when it is understood 

 that the sanctions of the law might be employed. We have 

 used the right to enforce mainly as an argument to persuade. 

 As thus used, we know in Connecticut that our law has been 

 a moral force. It is itself an effective advocate of education to 

 the very class who need it most. It has already accomplished 

 great good and brought into the schools many children who 

 would otherwise have been absentees. 



