New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-02
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
LOW TUE ACT WILL BE ENFORCED.

AGENTS OF TRUANCr-f3&NA4AAnS FOA AAAA'
VIOLATION OF TIE LAW.
The enforcement of the Compulsory Educa-
ton act BY the Board of Edueacn he looked FOR with
uch interest by tho people OF this city The principals
ana teachers OF the tine ward school oeFrs
have been busiy engaged for the past few weeks I'D
making census OF all children In each ward between
the ages OF eight and fourteen years, and the Board Oh
Education have adopted ruos and bylaws proVldpg ior
the appointment Of agents OF rnaney 10 procure he
abundance Of the children and 10 enforce the
law Members OF the Board OF Eluca-
lion have examined the schools and the records OF
attendance aud have satisfied themselves az to the
anaev OF the schoolhouses to the increased
pauber OF scholars that may DC expected 10 Apply or
admission under the pressure OF the new act IL Is Dc
sexed Inv the school officials that there is ample room
Tor the accommodation OF the scholars In the dis
ircts likely 10 affected by the operati9a " the Jaw
and the Board Of Education appear to be determined
70 use every have the children instructed as
required By the law. The act went into effect yester-
day, and Tribune reporter eOuversed with Commits
sionsr A. p Nun, member Of the Committee On BY
laws Of the Board Ut Education. as to the practical
working Of the new and the measures taken by the
Board TO put into successful operation also IN regard
to the Obligations OF parents and the penalty imposed
on employers vino may violate the law.
Nj Man said In this city meet with obstacles
which are not found In the rural districts ana only
measurablv IN other Tho present system Is TIE
eugro With OF the old Public School Society, and as re-
suit we have school districts Appropriated or pertain
ing 70 the respective sehoOhouses For the parpose OF
managing the schools, each ward has answered the
purpose of districts. There five trustees in each
ward They manage the schools in their wards Without
reference TO the residence of The scholars Residence in
the ward has nothing to do with It. A child
may reside next door 10 q schOOlhouse, ana
attend a school q mile or I'VE miles away
La the country there schoeLhouse for each district
and each district has schOJhOuSe- In each district
corresponding to the ward there are usually many
school houses. THIS considerable di1nculy We
have met with enforcing the law in this city rem
ders il next Impossible ascertain whether children
attend or not there district corresponding 70
each sohoOhouse and the children residing IN That d
trct were attend that schoOhOuse as Is usual
In country districts the labor Of procuring their attend
auce woud be comparatively light, 1t would be easy
Ia ascertain If the children In the vicinity Of school
house attended that school The first OF the
Commissioners therefore 10 have the city divided
INTO districts corresponding with the schooi
houses and then provide that the children IN each dis
trCt shall he registered in q register to DO Kept oy
the principal Of the school in which the children reside
but nasmuch as the children not compelled 20 attend
that school tho only mode of keeping track OF their
wanderings TO have their names upon the registry,
entry showing where the children 90 attend OF
claim TO attend. Then tc make this efeetual 1t is
necessary that each district and the whole city shall 10
canvassed Of all the children from house TO house and
street TO street. with q to their perfect registry
Now in order prepare that census the Committee OF
The Board Of Education conferred with the Police Com
nssOners and advised with them TO what should Do
conc ana they expressed readiness cooperate
but that Board of Education should, the
arst place. make complete registration
as could b. made the existing records
OF the schools kept by the principals
With the view the 8rst step taken By the Board
towards eGecung a general Of the children was
blank forms Of registration TO all the schools IN
the city, requiring each teacher to enter on those forms
the names children In their respective classes specify
lug not only the name but the age residence OF
parents and children, employed IL at all These tss
have Board of Education, but form
immense OF details, and the Board have had II
clerks these returns and to arrange the
upon corresponding the respective school
districts aud according to street numbers in each dis
tr1ct. This work is far completed as 70 be
nearly ready be placed In the hands or the Ponce
Commissioners. whose duty it will then be to
designate discreet officers In their department.
TO complete the census, by personal application
from house house aud street to street, in order
to make the registration more perfect This process
will be revised six months under the pro
OF this statute, although doubtless the labor Of
rev ision viii be comparatively light after the census
been made complete. Most Of the changes viii
appear on tho school registers
n next labor OF the Board to adopt bylaws pro-
VGug for tHe practical enfOrcm ent of tue law which
they detinei substantially suh'leht or me purpose;
Tn bylaws YET 10 De approved by Justice of
Court and they under the stat
ute the effect OF laws themselves The next step TO he
taken probably Wi b. the appointment OF eight agents
Of iruancy, including superintendent These eight
agents OF uudicy curIesPouI 70 INC nuulDe' VI no
eight general school districts into which the
eIty is divided for the purposes OF Inspection by
inspectors OF schools Probably each agent OF
truaney Will have district corresponding TO the
inspectors district The agents Of truancy, pre-
sumo will not be required 10 reside In the distre'
they must be men well qualned Tor me TASK, whose
minds energies Will Oe devoted 10 IT, They must
LOOK after the attendance OF children IN the schools,
hat purpose ali the Information they can get
the census, registration III tAe places
Of employment and what their own means OF oDserva-
ton Will afford. They expected to use no more
violent OF coercion tnan the exgences OF each
case may REQUIRE IL should De generally understood
BY the that 10 the intention OF the Board OF
Education thorough work Of carrying this law
mO eneeL Inc COMMITTEES having II ia charge caIne al
the conclusion That they did make thorough
work they might well not attempt TO enforce the law
AZ all The OBJECT IS not 30 much ~ compel al tne ch-
dren 10 enter the ward schools 70 make sure thst they
the amount of instruction in schools Of
some kind, or If possible at their own homes These
agents OF truancy viii be invested with ample authority
enforce the provisions Of the law III regard not only
10 those defined ruaDts, but also TO those
who be described a vicious or criminal class Of
Juvenile wanderers throughout the city. Doubtless
there Is class within this descrip
lion The agents OF truancy Will be authorized IN
tTates Tor commitment places where they
VAL not only be taught but restrained and
as those VINO are new inmates Of tue asylum
for juvenile deinquents. 1t ID hoped by those who
and employers will at the necessity OF
complying with It's requirements, not only for the Tell-
being ana proper instruction VI the children, but also
because unless they are placed In schools they VIII not
be able ud employment, however great their neces
ties e' attached 70 is violation. with regard
70 factories stores, and other Embellishments
school trustees Of the respective wards 70 make lnspec
aud that the law complied with or Its penal
enforced. The penalty for employing child who
has not been instructed during the preceding year for
the period OF time required by the law IS $50 The DIM
the provision thai children evening
schools for double the period required 9y the law In