Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-04
UNION AND AMERICAN.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Taking the ChiIdreu's Census Likely
TO Prove "a Failure.


If present indications can be trusted,
the police who are now engaged IN tax
ing the census Of ali children Of school
age in this city with view TO enable
the agents Of trUancy to prosecute pa
rents and guardians who evade theprO-
visions Of the Compulsory Education
law viii succeed but very IndIHerently
IN their task. 4 prominent police off,
cial was asked yesterday how long It
would probably take to complete the
census, and he SAID at least three
months. TheSuperintendenthas given
orders TO the captains to detail four
policemen IN each precinct to take the
census. These officers have to 90 from
house to house with huge blanks, , feet
by two, under their arms, IN which
they are to write the age, residence,
etc, of every child. This seems to be
rather an easy task; but 1t requires,
nevertheless, discretion and intelli-
gence far above the standard Of the
majority Of the police force. A great
many ignorant people among the lower
classes resent the appearance Of the
policeman At once rs an attempt ut es-
pionage, and endeavor TO deceive him
as 10 the real age Of their children.
Hence 1t Is necessary that the officer
should understand, by dint Of keen
questioning, how to arrive at the true
facts, and the conversational capacities
of the majority Of the force will not
be found equal TO the occasion. There
are a certain number Of intelligent
men in every precinct, the officials say,
who are fitted for the task, Tut they
are wanted for working up important
cases coming within the direct province
Of the department.
There are other drawbacks which
render 1t probable that the census Will
be wofuily incomplete even when It Is
finished. The policemen who are ap-
pointed to take the census have to
struggle with thewan Of any adequate
arrangements by the Board Of EdUca-
ton, which viii certainly not increase
the probabilities of their duty being
well performed. The blanks, for in
stance, with which they are supplied
are unwieldy by reason of their enor-
nous size. and if it is raining they are
likely to be wetted and soiled. II the
officers had small, easily portable note
books, it would be far better and great
iy facilitate the taking Of notes. An
other difficulty is that the policemen
cannot 20 beyond their own precincts,
while the census should be taken by
streets and by men who are able to
complete the census through the length
Of every thOrOUghfare. The task IN
trusted to the police necessitates do
miciliary visits to every homeint the city,
50 that It's gigantic intent can easily be
imagined, and the resistance on the
part of the ignorant classes will make
some Of these visits of considerable
length.
There Will also be great difficulty
after the census Is completed IN carry
ing out the law, more especially If 1t IS
attempted to bring its rlgOr to bear
upon the street children instead of
heir parents. The little street Arabs
will be required to carry about them
certificates showing that they had at
tended school fourteen weeks during
the year. Now, how are children,
whose clOthes-if they wear any worth
calling by that name-scarceiy ever
ian boast 81 "a pocket, be expected to
carry such q certificate about their
persons all the time? 1t is believed
shat the spectacle Of policemen drag
ging crying children through the
streets every day for all children who
cannot show such certificates are TO be
arrested viii create a popular senti.
ment against the law highly prejudical
10 the cause Of compulsory education
and that the operations Of the truant
agents should be principally directed
for the first few years against parents
and guardians who are responsible fol
the absence Of their children or wards
from the schools.