The record-union., 1894-04-05
er of non-attendinp children as show,

Der OF non-attending children as shown
by the table, we must make deduction
OF those between and q years of age
the latter age being that at which pupils
are admitted into the primaries-for the
purpose of determining the mum ber who
should be i'll school, and | presume it
would be safe to conclude that on the face
OF the table there are at least 500 such who
are not receiving educational advantages.
But however inaccurate the eenumerations
may have been, it is beyond question
that the number of non-attending child
rem is so large as to demand serious con-
sideration.
The law of March %, 1874, "to enforce
the educational rights of children" is
ample IN It's provisions to compel the at
tendance at school of very many who are
now out. II provides in effect that every
parent or guardian or person having con-
troll OF any child between and IA shall
be required to send it to a public school
for at least two-thirds of the time during
which the schools are taught in the city,
at least twelve weeks of which time shall
be consecutive, unless the child is eX-
cused by this board because of mental or
bodily defects. extreme poverty or sick
ness OF the parent or guardian, or that
the child IS taught in private school or
at home in such branches as are usually
taught in the primaries, or has already
acquired a good knowledge OF such
branches.
That the President of the board shall
publish for three weeks in June in each
year notice of the law. That any parent
or guardian violating the law shall be
guilty OF a misdemeanOr and shall be LA
bic to be fined not more than so, and tor
each subsequent otfense from $50 TO 500
and costs. Then provision is made for
aScertaining who the non-attendiDg chill
dren are, and the names of their parents
and guardians, and of instituting prosecu-
tions.
For years past this law has been dead
letter on the statute books, but cOnsidera-
tiOns of Justice to the children who are
! being allowed to grow up in the city with
cut educational advantages, either
through the indifference of parents or
! their own wilIfulness, dictate that 1t
should be rigidly enforced. 1t would be
a Statutory check to results that are bound
| to follow the present unrestralnt, which
is the sure progenitor OF crime, and
failure on our part to observe its pro-
visions makes us answerable for the con-
sequences later on to the children and to
society.
While the Superintendent is charged
with the supervision of the taking of the
census, and in measure with the enforce
ment OF the law for compulsory educa-
ton, and while from my association with
him in the board in the past L know that
he will earnestly and intelligently ad-
minister the trust repOsed in him, yet L
recommend that the Committee on Lii
brary be also charged with the response
bilities in this regard, and that it be made
their duty to cooperate with him, and to
| that end [ submit the following resolu-
ton and respectfully ask its adoption:
Res0IUed, That it shall be the duty of the
| Committee on Library, in conjunction With
! the Superintendent, TO see that the annual
census is taken strictly in accordance with
| the State law and 10 rigidly enforce the law
OF March 2S, 1874, relative to the educational
! rights of children.
submit herewith draft of manual
of the board, and respectfully ask that it
! be considered and amended in such par
ticulars as may be deemed necessary and,
when acceptable, adopted. The present
rules for the government of the delibera-
tions of the board and defining the duties
of the committees are so meager and dis
connected as TO be embarrassing particu-
! larly to the presiding officer, and it
seems manifest that with specific rules
| for action the business of the board will
be transacted more eXpeditiously and
satisfactorily. WINFIELD j. DAVIS,
President.