The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-26

Superintendent Harlan, In his late
annual report took strong ground in
favor OF tho establishment OF truant
school In this city, Or in the State, to
which truant school boys aud girls can
be sent who will not go to school vol
entarily, nor cannot be made to go to
school by any reasonable mode of ar
gument OF any humane mode OF pun
isnment-
This is q practical question and
should receive large share Of atten-
ton from those who are interested in
the proper education OF the young.
MIR. Harlan states the situation prop
perly and faithfully when he says:
'frhere is In this city large number
OF children who join the schools in
September and October each year, and
drop out in few weeks. They do not
like the necessary restraints OF the
school room, and their parents have
not enough control over them to keep
them in school. They can be seen in
considerable numbers oil the streets
In school hours any day. Many OF
them are growing up to swell the
ranks of Ignorance and crime"
That is a true picture OF the situation
what can be done to remedy the eyilS
AS Mr.. Harlan says. these children not
only keep the home OF the unfortu-
nate parents in hot water and in an
uneasy temper all the time but they
invade the public schools with u bad
Influence. The natural hayward dis
positions of large numbers of children
nre more easily influenced by the con
duct and actions OF these truant boys
and girls than they are influenced by
the good precepts and sound morals
Of the teachers. Their actions are a
block to the onward progress of u
school. When absent other scholars
are sent to hunt them up and inform
their parents of their truancy.
This these little monitors cannot do
without getting the i'll will of the tru-
ant scholars, and often receive from
them violent usage for obeying the re.
quirements of the teacher. Besides it
keeps them out OF school when they
should be In it. The superintendent
recommends an effective compulsory
school law by which these truants can
he compelled to attend the public
schools and In default OF this attend
ance be sent to the truant school pro-
vlded. Though there is large mum.
Der of children who play truant, but
few OF them would have to be sent to
the truantschool. Though this school
would be provided with every facility
and convenience Tor imparting a sounC
education, it would nevertheless
De a place of confinement, and If there
s ANYTHING a truant child would dis
like it is that OF being restrained o.
Its liberties.
The truaut school would loom VI
belore them as something to be mort
dreaded than the light restraints OF tn
home school with the privilege of be
Ing at home with parents an friends.
Though it would take large institu
ton to hold all the truant children il
Wilmington alone at this time. 1t wonlt
hiN" hut hhlasl ilSttsHtl'h w Hoi'
all who would become real truantl
after an institution was provided. TIL
certainty OF being sent to the truau
nchool We. Id have deterrent eifCc
up tho children, who lluowin
til certain y NJ Incarceration in
truant schoo would not run the ris
Of b eom ng truants. J he next legis
lat rs sauuld be strongly appealed Il
In ehali OF truant seho u, and til
lcg ..atdro thai establishes ono wi
60 Inc credit OF doing solid wor
20 ( tie line Of reiorn
&c