New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-24
LOOKING FOR TRUANTS.

COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL.
THE WORK OF Tue INsPECTORs-vIsIrING TIE
FACrOHEs-TOUKs THROUGH THE STREETS.
September and February the months in
which the truancy inspectors visit stores and man
uiactories to ascertain If children are being em-
poyed who are under fourteen years OF age, anu
who have not received instruction, as the law re-
quires for at least fourteen weeks of the year in
reading, writing. spelling. geography, English
grammar ana arithmetic. 1t is not necessary that
the children should attend public school, the in
sttuction received at parocha private schools or
by competent persons at home, being deemed sufi-
Gent The children must also present a certificate
that they have received such instruction. signed by
the teacher or school trustee and countersgned by
an officer of the Board of Education, to their en-
ployers when they begin work. Persons vino en-
ploy children contrary to these provisions are liable
10 lue of 80 for each offence, the money being
added TO the public school fund of the district IN
which the offence i committed.
The inspectors in tins city finished their reports
and presrbt ted them to Superintendent John Jasper
on the 18Th inst. Eleven inspectors are employed,
each of whom has "A certain district OF the city.
The work O the inspectors this season Is thought 10
have been unusually thorough. There were lOlS
factories visited IN these 100 children were found
working without the necessary certificates Ol III
struction. The PRINCIPAL occupations IN which
young children were found employed were a1lluclal
flower making ami cigar making; there were many
employers generally showed more inclination TINS
year to cooperate with the trudnCy Inspector han
formerly. They are now familiar with the law ana
many appreciate the TACT that an educated boy or
girl will make more shlltul and tractabic emplOyc
than IN ilhIcrlte one Some manufactures Will
ONLY receive lu their factories children VINO are able
to read and write. Nearly 100 ccruLcat,s have
been ISued Tar TIN, year 10 children Wishing en-
pluymcut number of the Italian bootbacEs
attends the night schools, rs well rs other poor
children who compelled to Work during the
day. A record of the eases of trUaucy Is kept a.
the Office OF the Board OF Education. Confirmed OF
vicious truau, sent TO the House OF Refuge, the
PrOtcctOry or the juvenile Asylum.
On October II the inspectors began their
search ior tluanis IN the streets. Two days IN each
week they leave their regular districts ana cOnccu-
trale their forces 50 as To thoroughly scQur the streets
IN some particular Ward. The FIRST Ward was IN
SPECIFIED on that dly by Officers W. &. bradley; j. =
krtchum, A. {. Ma tlurI, ). ii. Baker / II. Joprs,
W NJ. krtchcl Theodore Reeves and VI. II. Philip.
The force WI, divided INTO four plItles, each taking
"A certain section al the Ward. and starting out at
$3.50 q. Iu. TRIBUNE reporter accompanied one
ol Che parties Tow tTuIut boys were to he found
owing 20 the fact that the Ward contains mostly
business structures. One bar footed bOotblack IN
answer 10 the inspectors inquiries. sald ne was
" Going 10 get pIIt Oi shoes tomorrow, ana TWO
Italian match-ycudcrs stlutly aNcTrcd that they
attended the night school IN Eiu-5t. These aud
other eases were Ill noted IN the memorandum book
o the Inspector, and the schools and parent, OF the
children will be visited 10 ascertain the truth oil
the stories. The principals of the schools are also
furnished with postal car"s with which To send
word 10 the inspectors OF any cases ot truahcF IN
their schools The number oi DoNS the Inspector
stonp.d i'm the street who were Just passed lonf-
teen was surprising and yet the hardened old
look Of some OF the lowest class made them appear
even older. 4 few tariy youngsters were found
with not very shining morning faces. creeping like
snail unwllugy 10 school. and these started on
al q hrishcr pace after being released from the
strong grasp ot the Inspector.
Occa,ioullly in the poor and moro popplous
Ward, the inspectors have 10 deal with hard char
actcts and they hud all the truants they can we'll
manage. Occasionally the little fellows viii throw
bricks or stones even threaten 10 shoot the IN
sp.ctor Boys" clubs Congrcgatc IN alleys. cellars
or attics. and concOCt mischief undrr the secrecy
secured by mysterious signs, passwords and lines.
The inspectors have nearly broken up the practice
Of truaut, leaving their books IN candy and STA
tioucry stores while they OH NJ play. Sometimes
the truant will hide his books under hI- clothing 10
keep them ont OF sight. 4 very respectable looking
little girl from Brooklyn was found one day with
her books under her arm LOOKING IN the shop-w n
dow, M Eighth-ayc. and was much ashamed when
detected. on another occasion tta} at-hpmc
truaut jumped INTO bed when hc heard The inspcc-
tors rap. aud pretended he wa. sick. Ills mother
soon Appealed and male him feel slckcr than lie
fcIgucd 20 be- often, however, the parents are
aplth-tlc ir regard o. their childrcns education,
aud indeed have little control over them.