Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-30
CITY AND COUNTY.


at meeting of the city council, Monday
evening, the committee to whom was referred
the special message OF the mayor, Of March
rs, in reference to the duty imposed upon the
city government, by recent state legislation,
to make all needful provisions and arrange
ments concerning habitual turants, &C., made
a report. They state that there is most abun-
dant evidence daily furnished in all our prin-
cipal streets, OF the existence of large num-
bers of children, denominated habitual tru-
ants, children not attending school, without
regular or lawful occupation, or growing up
in ignorance, and that the city government
cannot properly or lawfully neglect to make
some efectual provisions for bringing them
under suitable moral and intellectual culture,
e" nstrnin them from idleness. immortality and
vice.
Ii was the unanimous opinion of the
committee that an effort should first be
made TO gather these neglected chill
dren of the streets into some Of our
public schools, before proceeding to es.
tabllsh for all such a penal and reformatory
school, which latter policy would necessarily
incura arge expenditure. They recommend
the adoption of stringent measures tor the in
corrigibly idle and vicious, but indulge the
hope that this class will not be so numerous as
to require the employment of additional force
at the almshouse, to which it is proposed 10
commit those who will not submit TO milder
discipline. The committee having fully con
sidered the subject in all its bearings, recon
mend the adoption Of the following ordnance,
which had its first reading and lies over under
the rules. We print it, not as an ordinance
that has been adopted, for it may not pass pre-
cisely III this form, but to show our readers
what the city council has under consideration.
The evil they SO wisely seek to correct Ger.
ta;nly deserves their attention -
Sect. l. That all habitual truants, and chill
dren not voluntarily attending school, and
children without regular md lawful occupa.
ton, or growing up in ignorance, between the
age of five and sixteen years and residents in
this city, shall, upon their names becoming
known to the truant commissioners appointed
by the mayor and aldermen, under the prOvis-
ions of sect B. chap. AZ OF the General Stat.
utes, be required to attend such of the public
schools and for such length OF time as shall
be designated by said commissioners and the
superintendent Of public schools.
Sect. 2. Any minor child between the ages
named in section first, neglecting, without
good cause shown, to attend the school so des-
ignated for him or her, as is provided in said
section, shall, upon conviction of being an
ha6ltual truant, or Of being without regular
and lawful occupation, or growing Lp in gne4
rance, pay a fine OF not less than two, nor
more than twenty dollars, to be recovered by
complaint before the police court to the use
OF the public schools of the city.
Sect. 3. In default of payment of the fine
provided for in section twO,or upon being con.
vicIed second time for any OF the offenses
named i'll said section the child so in default,
or so being convicted, may be sentenced to the
city aims house for term of time not exceed.
ing two years; there to be kept, employed,
aud instructed under the general care OF the
superintendent OF the aims house, with such
assistants as the city council may from time
to time employ for that purpose.
STct. A. 1t shall be the duty of The city
marshal, and all other police officers of the
city to report forthwith to said truant com.
mlsSloners the names OF all children between
the age OF five and sixteen years, known or
believed by them to be guilty of any of the
oienses named in section two of this ordi.
nance.