The New York herald., 1874-12-19
LAW FOR BAD BOYS.
The Compulsory Education Bill TO Go Into
Effect on New Years Day.
EMPLOYERS TO BIZ FINED WHO DEPRIVE CHILDREN OP
INSTRUCTION
WHAT SUPERINTENDENT NDOLE THINKS


Immediately after New Years Day, 1875, has
passed the citizens OF this city. which boasts OF
| Its many thousands OF school children and OF Its
! large number OF magnificent puolic schools, Will
be brought face TO face win problem which has
been solved successfully in some OF the German
States OF Europe, but which will undoubtedly
prove novel measure to the people Of the me-
tropolis
THE WILD WAITS AND STREET ARABS.
The measure referred TO Is that OF the bll passed
by the Legislature Of this State May IL. 1874 Which
was introduced by Mr.. Dexter Hawkins, and is
popuarly known as the compulsory Education
bin" Some weeks since the State Superin-
tendent OF Public Instruction. Mr.. Neil
| Gnmour, forwarded from Albany to all the
town clerks boards OF education and trustees OF
school districts throughout the State printed
| copy of this bill for their information. 1t is the
fact that the general mass OF the people are but
/ poorly informed as to what will be the practical
| Workings OF the bill which comes into effect on
New Years Day, yet Its clauses vital to all in
/ terested In our schools. and some little explana
| tion may be necessary. 1t is intended by its
| framer TO gather in from the Streets slums and
workshops OF the city all children between the
7 ages OF eight and fourteen and compel their
| parents, II they have any, TO send them to
school Tor q term OF fourteen weeks
IN the year, eight weeks OF which
must be consecutive, or they may be instructed at
home fourteen weeks, which Will serve the purpose
or the law equally we'll The Dill provides specif-
cally that the branches which all children OF what
ever sex or social rank must learn shall be,
under the law, spelling, reading, writing English
grammar, geography and arithmetic.
HOW IT IS TO BE DONE.
| reporter OF the HERALD called at the Board Of
Education and received from MIR. Henry Kddle,
who has been for twenty years the efficient
| superintendent or Public Schools, considerable
light on the subject OF the new law Mr.. Kiddle
very kindly told all he knew in regard 10 the mat.
| ter and gave mis- views with what information he
had In regard to law which Is as yet not In force.
"Do you think that the law will be success,
| Mr.. Kiddle s' was, OF course the first question
| asked
81 see no reason why 1t should not be. as far as
may Judge. Of course have no exact data. nor
! can I have until the law has been some time in
actual operation"
| "Wel, Mr.. Kiddle, will the children gathered
from the streets and workshops without regard
to their former associations character be placed
! In the same school with those who have been
regular attendants at school always, and whose
| character and associations are excellent with
out reproachs"
THE CHILDREN WHO WORK.
81 think very likely that we may be compelled
| to have special schools for those children who
! are compelled to attend py the new law Although
there are. no doubt, very many hundreds OF chill.
dren who are compelled to work in shops and fac
tories, between the ages or eight and fourteen,
| whose parents are needy and respectable, and
| whose children help in many ways 30 support
these poor families The last actual enrolment OF
the public schools OF the city shows
| return on the books or l09, 02S scholars, and
! the actual attendance was 100,676. OF course,
then there are the private schools, seminaries
and academies, the parochial schools, chiefly
belonging 70 one religious persuasion, the Roman
Catholic and corporate schools, which are really
parochial schools. There Is not any reliable
! computation OF he number OF children who at
tend the schools which are not public schools, but
should suppose that their pupils would average
in attendance as many as IS, 900 or perhaps more;
| but could not give any figures in the matter"
THEY WILL BE TAKEN BEFORE POLICE JUSTICES.
"What mode OF procedure WIN be taken on the
rules and regulations reported BY the Committee
on Compulsory Education OF the Board or Educa-
tion IN regard the practical enforcement or the
| law when 1t takes enect?'
THE TRUANT OFFICER ON HIS LITTLE BEAT.
| ''Tne rules and regulations win be submitted by
the Board OF Education to a Judge OF the Supreme
Court OF the city OF New YORK. and when he nnds
them correct and not in any way overstepptng the
| legal boundaries the Board will proceed TO the
enforcement BY the appointment OF a General
Truant Ofdcer, or Truant superintendent, as the
case may be, In the wisdom and discretion OF the
Board; and suppose tne1 n, there M win be sruan:
| OF course, the Two new wards across the
that the Board will take their own measures a.u
| perfect them according 70 their own proper judg
| ment merely give my opinion-tnat Is all. The
factories between the ages OF eight anc fourteen
sna oe srrsssn @ asn anal he ed IN nrde tSa
Shall be compelled 70 go TO school or that their
parents shall be forced TO send them - And tn.s
Will make the search and the arrest II necessary"
THEY WILL BE- \, ss AND
do not attend school and yet are not TO be found
on the streets :" - .
assistance OF the police, who are to 60 from house
children in the house, together with tns fact
| whether they have attended or do attend school
making KIM out the necessary blanks 10 be prepared
FOR tais purpose anc % .rS copy & or =. census census
eacn eae ssasion With the DSsI local
/ School District Board and one here in this De.
N ~ m sDs 4eeora y o win
the children in the city and how they spend their
time. nabitual truants who ,osIa. wii not attend
parents or BY the EFFORTS Of the truant officers,
| Will no doubt be sent 0y the ponce magiStrate,t0
! some institution in which punishment Will oe en-.
forced and penalty exacted for their disobedi.
ence. Probably the institution may be tnat for
the Reformation OF Juvenile Deinquents or some
/ sucn place
WHAT Mr.. AND MRS. PUBLIC OPINION HAVE TO SAY,
In view OF the fact that the law is soon 20 take
effect the HERALD representatives. visited
number OF people who may be directly or tndi-
get at their views when they had any. Among
the school teachers there Is great deal OF excie
ment as 10 what win be done with the boys who
| may be taken from the streets, dirty, ragged and
riotous, to be placed as they think, among their
Some OF the lady teachers are very much dis
gusted at the idea, and declare It to be Q shame
that "tney should bring sne nasty little boys into
schools well established and where every pupil Is
submissive and full Of love and affection Tor his
| teacher.o
HINT TO MIsRRLY EMPLOYERS,