Compulsory  Education  Laws.  In  our  country,  education  is
considered  not  only  a  privilege,  but  a  duty.  Hence,  nearly  all  of
the  states  have  compulsory  education  laws  that  require  all
children  from  eight  to  fourteen,  or  from  eight  to  sixteen  years  of
age,  to  attend  school.  The  employment  in  industry  of  children
under  fourteen  or  sixteen  years  is  generally  prohibited ;  and  a
fine  may  be  imposed  upon  parents  or  employers  who  violate  the

law.     The  object  of  compulsory  education  is  to  protect  the

state  from  ignorance  by  assuring  each  child  at  least  the  elements
of  an  education.
State  Universities.  In  addition  to  the  many  private  colleges
and  universities  throughout  the  Union,  forty  commonwealths
maintain  state  universities  which  students  may  enter  upon
completing  their  high  school  course.  The  state  universities
offer  a  wide  variety  of  courses  in  order  to  equip  their  students
for  many  different  pursuits,  —  for  business  life,  teaching,  law,
medicine,  pharmacy,  engineering,  forestry,  and  agriculture.
These  institutions  aim  to  make  their  work  practical,  and  directly
related  to  the  life  of  the  people  of  the  state.  They  seek  to  im-
prove agricultural  methods,  to  advance  manufacturing  interests,
and  to  raise  the  standard  of  education  and  health  among  the
people.
