Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-24
BEHIND OTHER STATES.
Superintendent Morrow, of the Alle-
gheny Public Schools,
fAVORS COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
he Claims # Is Defeated by the forts Of
the Mob lement.
A PLAIN TALK IN HIS ANNUAL REPORT

The thirtv-eighth annual report of the
Allegheny Board of Controllers and the
nineteenth annual report of the Superin-
tendent of Public Schools, of that city, was
issued YESTERDAY 1t is for the school year
ending June l, 1892,
Itisayery carefully compiled publica-
tion, and shows the work OF the year in the
minutest detail Superintendent Morrow
deplores the fact that Pennsylvania does
not have compulsory education law. He
saws:
Itis a source of great regret that we are SO
far behind in this regard. Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Ohio. Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Mime
sofa, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas,
Wyoming, Nevada, California, Washington,
Idaho, Montana, Alaska and District of Col
umbia all have compulsory laws to prevent
truancy and to compel attendance at school
of children whose parents seem to have no
concern for their welfare. All our laws are
in a sense compulsory. but they affect only
the law breakers. So with q compulsory
education law-it would have no terrors for
the good citizens of q community-it would
sfTeet those only for whom it is intended.
The Law Not Dead Letter.
Our laws for the punishment OF thieves,
burglars and other criminals are compul-
sorry. but they do not in any way annoy the
.luw-abiding people of locality. How unac-
countabIe it seems, therefore, to thinking
people, that any intelligent person could be
found who would vote against such a rea-
Sonable measure; and yet, numerous unsuc-
cessful attempts have been made to get
compulsory education law through the
Pennsylvania Legislature. One of the most
potent arguments to defeat such law
has been that it is said to be
books wherever enacted. In answer to this
] would suggest that investigation will show
hat this is almost wholly a miSrepresenta-
tion of facts Because two or three OF the
above named States enforce such a law in
half hearted wav it does not follow that
tie law is ut 'ault, but rather shows the
negligence and iuefliciency of the executive
officers whose duty it is to see that the law
Is faithfully carried out. A very significant
TACT, toe, in this connection is that all other
laws in these States are administered in the
kame inefficient manner, and legitimate
result gro wing out of such a disregard of
law is the turbulent and riotous spirit of,
the people.
The Mob Element Always Opposes.
When an attempts made in Pennsylvania
TO secure such law, the mob element of
the State at once raises the howl that it is
an infringement on their rights, and all
sorts of assiniue arguments are put forward
TO prevent its passage. 1t is anything but
complimentary TO the intelligence of the
people of this Common ealth that the law
breaking element seems thus lar to have
the ear of our Lawmakers. So long as they
are permitted to bear the sway we may eX-
pect to ind swarms of half grown mon and
boys loafing on the street corners of every
city and town in the State. 1t is travesty
on common sense that those in authority
should longer persist in ignoring the appeals
o the intelligent and orderly portion OF the
population in this matter.
The report of attendance of the schools
for the year show the following: Average
enrolment in day schools for the year,
II 900; gain over last year. 210; average at
tendance In dav schools for the wear, II, 276,
gain over last year, 209 number of teachers
employed in day schools, 800, gain over last
year, 9; average enrolment in evening
echc0is 500, gain over last year, II; average
daily aNCndance in evening schools, CO.,
gain over last year, 3; number of teachers
employed in evening schools, 40, gain over
last year, 3,