The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-08-04
SCHOOL ACE.

IA the matter Of school age, or
the age to which children should be
compelled 10 attend school in this
kingdom, has been lately under dis
cussion in the Legislature, and con.
tinues TO be discussed in the COM
muni,y, little outline information
here following respecting the prac-
tice in other countries is seasonable.
In New South Wales the Public
Instruction Act OF 1880 provides
that CATER the expiration of three
months from the passage of this Act
il shall be obligatory upon the pa
rents or guardians of all children be-
tween the ages of six and fourteen
years, (unless just cause of eXemp-
ton can be shown), TO cause such
children to attend school for period
of not less than seventy days in
each half-year. But any of the fol-
lowing reasons shall be held to be a
Just cause of exemption. () That
the child is being regularly and eff
GENTLY instructnd in some other
manner. (2) That the child has
been unable to attend school from
sickness or infirmity or from fear
OF infection or other unavoidable
cause. go That there is no school
maintained under this Act within
two miles by the nearest road of the
residence of the child. (4) That
the child has been educated up TO
the standard of education required.
When any child attending public
school has been educated up to the
standard of education required by
the Act, such child shall receive
certificate of release"
In England, according to Il.
Laishley, Esq, attendance is not
enforceable against child of 10
years or upwards, who has obtain
ed a certificate of proficiency or of
previous due attendance at 'certi-
fled efficient school,, or who is en-
ployed and attending school in &C
cordance with the Factory Acts or
of any bye-law mentioned in the
clause of the statute according the
The exemption" L. Act 1876.
1.-The compulsory attendance period
is virtually from to 49,"
In France compulsory attendance
1T school now applies to all children
Of both sexes, from the age of six
TO that of thirteen. If, however,
they are receiving instruction at
home, or at q private school, or OBJ
tain ''certi.icat d'ctudes," (Which
il is possible to- obtain at eleven
and Is often obtained at tweive)
,hey are exempt; and with respec
to this certificate the Royal Commits
sloners for Technical instruction
state that the examination will pro
baby not be considered more dill
cult than that of children in Englisl
schools who pass the fifth standard
and have taken one or more specia
subjects.
In Germany elementary educa
ton is compulsory for all childre
from the age of six to that of four
teen. unless competent instruction
is obtained elsewhere.
In Belgium the school age is dc
fined TO be from the age of six I
that of fourteen, but attendance i
not compulsory.
In the United States, in most @
the States, the school age is fror
eight to fourteen.
1t will be seen from the foregoing
that IN neither of the countries men
toned is attendance ut school com
pulsory after the age of fourteen
Fifteen is the age in this country
1t will be noticed also that in mos
cases the term may be shortened in il
dividual instances by the acquiremer
of proficiency at an earlier age. Pro
badly the adoption of this metho
Of lowering the age would operate
advantage here. Parents wantin
the services of their children fo
wage-earning would thereby be ful
nished with a strong incentive
aid the teacher and children |
every way in their power to reac
the point Of proficiency required.