The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-18

Ihc tlLuc anu pllAOW VI iIc
These instances are vouched for, but
they show rather want OF
religious instruction than the contrary, and
hence the question of whether anything is
gained by the introduction of this branch of
teaching into day schools is still debatable
one and will still no, doubt, as heretofore,
be plentifully discussed in both countries
The law which compels parents to send
their children to school seems to be produc-
ing the best of results i'll every way. 1t is
true there are half million not yet on the
register, and that the average attendance tails
million below the number enrolled. But
these are trfing circumstances, considered
in connection with the vast increase
the law has secured. Compulsion is
brought to bear on children between the
ages of five and thirteen who reside within
two miles of a school-house, though
child who has attended regularly
and has passed the fourth standard, is ex-
empt from this law at ten years of age The
course pursued toward parents who habitu-
ally keep their children away, or who send
them only irregularly, is about as follows
The teacher reports their names to the board
and that body through its attendance officer,
makes an investigation of the circumstances
If no valid excuse is discovered and the par
ties refuse to heed friendly admonition, they
must answer to the magistrate. That func-
tionary, on first offense, merely makes an
order that the child shall at once be sent to
same party is brought up again a
fine of five shillings ($1.25) is in
tlicted. In the case of person summoned
for giving employment to child OF school
age the fine is $40 The effectiveness of this
law is interfered with to some degree by the
fact of the schools being pay schools Free
education has not yet been reached here,
though the tide of events is set in that d.
rection. The fees are very small. No school
receiving government aid can charge more
than eighteen cents a week, and the mini
mum, per scholar, is two cents, the average
being about seven cents. Naturally, in a
country where such vast masses are abjectly
poor, and where many even of those who
work hard get scarcely enough to keep the
wolf from the door, thousands of families
and it difficult to pay these fees, especially
as the family income is reduced by the sum
the children might earn if not forced to at
tend school. In some of these cases, it is
true, the guardians of the poor step
in and pay the assessment, but not
all are relieved in this way, and the point is
often raised whether system of compulsory
pay can consistently go hand in hand with
system of compulsory attendance. In case
just decided before the Queens Bench in
which the London School Board sued for
school fees, two of the judges held that the
money due could not be collected by legal
process. The third Judge, however, Chief
Justice Coleridge, dissented from this view,
an dppedl W d ulSner COuTI was dllOWeu.
PRACTICAL WORKING OF THE LAW.
But while occasionally difficulties arise
under this compulsory law, its practical
working has thus far amply justified its
enactment, and, as to its effects on the poor,
the universal benefits it confers on this class
abundantly atone for any solitary instances of
hardship or seeming injustice that may
arise from it. In this city the results of the
L., L. L.
and suffering, and in causing relief to be
furnished, have been most blessed. The at
tendance officer climbing into dark garrets
or penetrating damp cellars, has proven to
be a very angel of mercy to the occupants.
His reports, presenting in many cases, the
most narrowing pictures of human distress,
have greatly quickened the pulse of charity
and have shown once more how sadly true it
is that one-half the world do not know how
the other half live. OF the startling facts
revealed one deserves special mention. 1t
was found that out of 487 families in the
district nf Golden Lane school, 400 live in
abodes OF only one room each, 70 the con-
dition of this poverty-strcken neighbor-
hood, the attention, not only of the
poor law guardians, but of the charitable
public, has been directed and many already
are the looks of sympathy and steps of help
that have gone that way. In this connection
1T should be said that movement is on foot
for providing the children of the poorer dis
tricts of London with daily dinner at the
school-house. No doubt this will be done
eventually, At Rousdon, in Dorsetshire, the
plan has been i'll operation for some time.
The children pay two cents each, and being
provided for large number, the dinner, it
has been found, can be supplied for that
sum without loss. Thus, the effort is self
sustaining, and the effect of good MONDAY
meal on little ones who formerly were under
fed is so marked that the inspector for
the district makes it a special sub
ject of commentator in his report
Another novelty about to be grated on the
London system of education is the establish
ment of "truants' school," The necessary
grounds and buildings have already been
purchased. The house will have forty
beds when it opens, subject to increase as the
necessity may arise, and incorrigibe youths
are tc be detained in it for the purpose of re-
formation.
The English school system provides for the
teaching of cooking and sewing and special
grants are allowed for these branches. In
London social economy" is now to be
added. The committee to whom the board
referred the question of introducing this.
new branch, recommended it "both because
of the importance of instructing the children
of the working classes upon such topics as
the need of industry and thrift, the causes
which regulate the rate of their own wages
and the employers profits the inability of
laws to create wealth, the basis of private
property, and the like subjects, and also be-
cause of the important aid which the study
of those subjects may be made to afford in
cultivating a sense of duty with reference to
industrial life" Much has been said about
overcrowding and the injurious effect of the
school system on health, but Sir Lyon Play
fair has just punctured this bubble by some
interesting statistics. The difference in the
mortality of children between 1888 and 1854
and that of the last Sve years is as follows
the latter period diminished mortality
among males of 80 per cent and among fe-
males of 33 per cent. Taking the ages from
ten to fifteen, the diminution was 80 per
thn