The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-19
NEW YoRK,s TRuAsT CHILDREN.
The Board Of Education 10 Create n New re
fOrmatory InstitutieB.

The Bylaws Committee of the Board OF
Education had handed to them, yesterday, Tor
their consideration, resolution In which Presi-
dent Wood sets forth his plan for carrying out
the mandates the Compulsory Education law
relative to the disposition OF habtual truants
from the public schools. The law requires that
all children between eight and fourteen years OF
age shall attend school at least fourteen weeks
every year eight Of these weeks being consecu-
tive), unless either the mental or the physical
condition of the child forbids. heavy fine IA
the penalty for employing children OF these
ages during school hours. Children who cannot
be induced to attend school are declared to be
habitual truants, and permission is given to the
Board of Education to confne, instruct, and dis
cipline them In a suitable place and manner.
AT frat, whenever truant children were ar
rested they we're sent to the school on Wards
Island. under the control OF tho Department OF
Charities and Correction. This place was abol-
ished and then the truants wore put under the
charge of the Society Tor the Reformation OF
Juvenile Delinauents on Randalls lsllnd.
President wood was unwilling that tins dispo-
sition OF the children should become perma,
nent custom. lie said that much harm would
come from forcing the truants To eat sleep, anu
associate with worse delinquents undergoing
punishment for pocket picking and graver Of
| fences Sixty-nine OF these habitual truants
| were under discipline on Randnll's lslandin the
/ early suntner. Nine were released IN June and
| when the schools closed President Wood dis
! missed the remaining sixty. The resolution
| which he hopss will soon become "A law, nnds
| that the statute directs that the hoard OF Edu-
cation shall "provde suitable places FOR the dis
cipline Of these fru8nts," and :" as tho Board has
| no suitable institution under Its own CHARGE
| he asks that such edi1ce shall to erected.
The resolution reads substantially rs followsi
| Resolred That the Committee bylaws. &C.. re.
port plan for the organization OF refOrinatory
school Tor the reception. detyntlon and Instruction OF
| "hahtual trurnts." Such school, however. not 10 be
even called laboratory school 90 that no ctimi
nal associations shall be connected Win H. hut II snail
be known aiInpy "Clty SCHOOL No. 100, and be
located In healthy position such for, instance a.
the southwest corner Of Wards Island, with not less
than - ground attached to the school build
Wards Island location being the sea shore ana high
wall interorly cutting of al connection with tue rest
| of the Island.
| The building to contain such refomatory school
| should be OF sire sufficient TO accommodate zoo
scholars and be arranged that 100 Of these might bt
noys and o. girls aud the plan Of tic building shout
be of such nature that proper additions could be nag,
a. the necessity arose without interfering materially
with the general appearance Of the cdnce such hui d
ing should have at lClet three large dcrmtorlee to
hoys and for girls large hall for the ipeiruc
tOn Il bows. and smaller one Tor that OF girls Alt
With the regulate rcfCctufee Tot both sexes Also res
licences for The family " the head instruct or anu man
agor. ana Tor the necessary keepers VI iAnitou
The committee will adopt either that or
similar resolutions" said President Wood yes
terday " because the only other disposition
that can be made OF the truants Ii to send then
TO some penal Institution. and that VIII neve
consent to-" 1t Is probable that the committee
will report to-day.