The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-04-27
TTESDAl, APRIL "a, 1873.
The Workings Of the Compulsory
system Of Education.

i9E the past sGTeniesa yearH, and the Prae'
teal beaeiia a;s nov beiHE manifested in
tie inereats Of educated inIeLigeBcs
among the macs Of he people. To this
fact il assribed the grouinE thrih and
entsrPrise sPPlrrn! among The artisans,
lIb0ring eIasss, and IoUeT elaas Of CHI
IenS Of that STATE. Since the adoption
Of the lay i! / estimated tha; there has
teen Al ise.e.s IA The daily sItshdanoe
al he public schools Of 81 per oeHI, and
the cases where the older children are
found unable TO rad and write, are eI-
ospdoHal. Another noticeable feature
Is that the compulsory Law Is regarded
With faTur among the cilsses most bsh-
e6;tsd by il, and thu: they are the
E.ronses, advocates Of it s;Eict enforce
meat. ReoogniIing the advantages Of
the operation Of this system in MAssa-
chuss,u, and SEEING the Eeosssity for
,p.zsiL las. uhicR should apply to the
Thousands Of cases tia, we're growing up
in her borden without the eIsmentaTy
principles Of education, in Nay, 1874, the
S,..s Of New YoGk pas-ed las that al
children between the agrs Of eight and
fourseen YEAR should attend come public
or private sthooL for at lsIss fourteen
veeks Of srsryyelr, eight Of Ukieh should
h Consecutive, and every PaEent or guar
dian having tbs care Of children 70 bs
,abjesEd 70 : Ebe Of 81 i9T the Efa Doc
eompliIDcs Sith the regulations OF this
lav. Ip1 kne d $ fOF every saeueeiing
nop-oon plane. By the Law, no OOs il
alloved 70 hire o. engages child b<tuUen
the age Of eiEh; ALi fourteen ysAri in
any baSines whatever daring Ihs school
hour Of the school term, uniess = osrtih'
cate Of the teacher or sehDol trustee Is Oh
tIiDsd, stating that the letter u the laU
has besh observed
A revolution 20 general in tie SchoOl
system required time, and Consequently
the las did not go into practical opera
ton sn,ll March lat, 1875. To insure il
.s71-siul opera;ico, ; neu osnsu' Of all
Children had 10 h& taken, and i nov be-
ingearried isrE1Tl rapidly. The meth.
od .; it accomplishment is - i0li0Ss:
Ind city Of New YORK, By order q the
Police Commissioner, tSo policemen are
daily detailed in each predict TO asns'tAin
the aEe. name ani occupation Of it, pa.
rvnt. or guardians. Thee returns are
uaIs TO the Commissioners, ADD BY them
transferred to tie Board d EluesiiOn.
Il, /. estimated tia; the azgreglte num-
her will pro1ima,s 2jO.U)o OF marty .
per cent Of tk4 es,ire Fopali.ion Of the
city u New York. This i. 4 startling
iArt. When taken in Connection Ii,h The
iorne, school esn.us, upon Uhieh but
lZ2ypyy n1f0ss are enrolled.
A very Interesting feature Of this
sysua. is the TruIbey Department
The object Of this il to insure the en-
i,rcsnert q the provision Of the lar.
FOr Ibis purpase the city has been
divided into eight TunRsy Districts, in
stch Of ubieh an appointed agent is in
veste1 With f1ll power. 20 detect and
appreheod children bstUsen aid age,
Who may BE found upon the streets
during SCHOOL houfL The agent ia
furnilhed With an insignia Of Office and
pover tn make srresu. Each teacher
in the public schools is required To keep
full and correct list Of all the children
in bis district betueen the ages Of
eight and fourteen year., With li's Of
daily ATTENDANCE in school. When an
Absence oocurS, the teacher is required
20 report to the agent. This Is done
through postal cards, upon which tbe
name, age and residence Of the child IL
written. Upon receipt Of this, The agent
repairs to the home Of the child, 70 make
inquire. Of the cause for absence, and in
majority Of cases il il found that the
parents are not aware Of the absence Of
the child from school II ia very strong
argument in favor Of this system, that
teachers and agents meet with general
and hearty cooperation Of parents, Who
express themselves a. ubquali6edIy in
favor Of the Law when the nature Of il il
explained 10 them, and render all possible
Assisiance 10 enforce compliance upon The
part Of the children. II
This i especially gratifying 70 the All.
sboritiss, iot while : majority Of citizens
we're known to Be in favor Of giving their
children all possible mean' lot education,
IT va certain many WUuld consider The
compulsory ieature - an arbitrary e1er.
ciSe Of power, and an ebcroaehmens upon
parental authority. That there has been
DO conflict, is doe to the prudence and
discretion Of the School Bard aDd their
agents. The children, and especially the
BOYS, seem to regard this matter in DIFF.
lstent light, beating a ha,ty re,tca, uPon
the approach Of the officer, and uttsrins
cries Of Nsrhing 10 their mates in dAnget