The New York herald., 1877-02-08
OUR SCHOOLS.

REPORT or SUPERINTENDENT xIDDLs-rHE
TRuANcY Observation-Disclosures FROM
THE COMPTROLLER.
The Board Of Education met yesterday afternoon
Superintendent Kiddc presented tho following report
for the year.;
NUMBER OF cLAssIrrcArIoxs OF SCHOOLS.
The whole number OF schools under the care Of the
Board is Sos, as iollows:-46 grammar schools
ior males, AZ grammar schools for females and II
grammar schools tor 10th sexes o6 primary Depart
ments and 46 separate primary schools schools for
colored children, including ! grammar and primary
departments 10 corporate schools 80 evening schools
naut,caI school, the Normal College and train.
ing school connected herewith. aud tho Satur-
day normal school for teachers The attendance OF
pupils reported as taught during any portion OF the
year is 252, 1885, and the average daily attendance is
l22 SIS, showing decrease in the former compared
1850
The average attendance in tho grammar and pr-
mary schools, exclusive OF the coored schools, was
lo b59 against 90 900 last year. showing increase
Of little more than two and half per cent during
the year; while the increase last year was
vious about seven and half pcr cent
The average enrolment during the year is ia s65 and
tho average attendance nearly ninety per cent OF the
average enrolment There are at present employed
in tho several schools 2s7 teachers assistant teach
crs Al. The examination OF scholars was found TO be-
excellent, las; good, s0S; air lO9 indifferent s.
total, 2O13.
OVER EXPENDITURE
A communication from Comptroller Kelly was read
regarding the personal liabilities of heads OF depart
mcnts Tor spendiag IN excess Of appropriations, stating
that they can be held To strict account.
Commissioner Baker presented u resolution request
ing tho Committee bylaws TO amend them that
there viii he no necessity tor tho appointment OF vico
principals in the future.
A letter read from the Board Of Health commu-
ncating the resolutions adopted In reference TO the
keeping 0 children at home hc people IN their ros
dence arc s,ck with contagious diseases. The Board
OF Health resolved that u list OF persona sick with
sent 70 tho Board OF Education daily
Tho secretary was directed 10 commun unicate with
the pastors OF tho dilorcnt churches anu the Arch
bishop In order to compliance with tho pro-
Visions of these resolutions. The Communication was
entered on the minutes.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF rnUANcY-
AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.
The superintendent of Truancy, Mr.. Alexander N
Stanton has just issued his report for the year 1870
concerning tho working OF tho act to TO children
the benenis OF an elementary education, better known
the Compulsory Education act The report says
that H. 79 have been Investigated by the agents
OF truancy during this PERIOD of which number o66
have becn found to be truants and 401
The beneficial effect OF checking truancy in It's Incl
picncy shown by the that only 503 OF this num-
bcr OF truants have been reported.
WORK or THE DEPARTMENT SUMMARIZED
The suboircd summary represents the work done
by the agents OF ,ruancy during the year Number OF
cases investigated, H7I9, which are casscd as lol-
lows:-Chdren kept A. homo by parents, but returned
to school at solicitation OF agents, 1927 Kept home
by sickness 1850; by poverty 65s; taught homo,
81 physically or mentally disqualified. 54 transferred
from ono school to another, 52y; under or over IA
years OF age $50; withdrawn from school, 356;
bcr whose residence could not be found, l519 Total
number not csssed as trnants, l0O99 Total number
placei in school, 4620. The nationaites OF tho pa
rents Of children are as follows: American, 1852 !;
German, $685. lrsh 904; ohor nationalties $40;
unknown 1,197 Or those placed in schooi 2S2 were
actually taken from the streets by the officers ap-
pointed under the act
SCHOOL CENSUS
An annual school census, that Of children
OF the 'schoo age Is suggested by tho Supernten.
dent Mr.. stanton concludes his report fol-
lows:-Thnt the law meets with popular favor ID
conclusivey shown by tho fact that thcre has becn
little opposition TO Its enforcement its justice
and necessity being acknowledged by all. II has un-
doubtedly done much good and brought into schoo
many who otherwise would havo boen Ict u lie oI
ideness. Our work has Decn mainly accom- pshod by
persuasion and argument, STRIVING to make the law
moral iorco rather than engine OF terror, aud only
when these have failed to accomplish reor
nation has its legal power boon evoked punish the
delinquent