The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-05-17
Herald.
THURSDAY, NAY II, 1894.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.


Fora number Of years leading educators
Of New York state have been endeavorinR
70 secure the enactment of Compulsory
Education law more complete and salts.
factory than tire one put on the statute
Dook some twenty years ago This result
mas now been accomplished. The bill
passed by the Legislature attracted
large degree of public attention, but it
received substantially unanimous vote
IN both houses, and Governor Flower has
signed it. The measure promises to serve
the purpose in view, assuming that It is
adequately enforced.
This measure had been defeated in
former years, owing to the fearsCf Roman
Catholics that a compulsory education
would interfere with their pArochial
schools but after some notifications of
she bill had been made Senator Bradley
and other Roman Catholics in tho Lsgis-
iature supported it heartily.
The important section of the bill is As
follows:
Every child between eight and sixteen
years Of age, in proper physical and mental
NsQ0diuon to attend school, shall regularly
attend upon instruction at a school in
which at least the common school branches
Of reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic,
English grammar and geography are
saught, or upon equivalent instruction.
by competent teacher elsewhere than at q
school, as follows; Every such child
between fourteen and sixteen years of age,
not regularly and lawfully engaged in
ia any useful employment or service, and
extsy such child between eight and twelve
sears Of age, shall so attend upon instruc-
sion as many days annually, .duriug tho
zeftod between the first dhJsot October
and the following June, as the public
schooI Of tho district or city in which such
Ehild resides shall be in session during
she same period. Every child between
twelve and fourteen years OF age In
p4uper physical and mental condition to
Httsnd school, shall attend upon inHtruc-
EoR.dnring such period, at least eighty
saarrlsr days Of actual attendance, which
vacations and detention by sickness,
Which holidays, vacations and detentions
shall not be counted as a part OF such
Yighty days; and such child shall, in
addition to the said eighty days, attend
zpon instruction when not regularly anc
lawfully engaged in useful employment
0r service. II any such child shall SO
attend upon instruction elsewhere than
1t public school, such instruction shall
3e at least substantially equivalent tC
nn instruction given to children Of lik'
steat the public school of the city Of
Eistrct in which such child resides; anC
yuch attendance shall be for at least al
Uany hours Of each day thereof as are re
HuiIyd Of children of like age at publi
schools; and no greater total amount o
holidays and vacations shall be deducte'
zum such attendance during the perio
such attendance is required than is q
owed in such public school to children q
axe age Occasional absence from sue
Nttsndancs not amounting to irreguls
N&teDdance in the fair meaning OF tn
se1rn shall be allowed upon such excuse
qnly az would be allowed in like cases b
LhC general rules aud practice OF sucl
gutlie school.
Gne important section of the act pre-
ddes for the punishment of firms VIII
shall employ children of the school age
1t shall be unlawful for any person
s7n or corporation TO employ any chill
assWeen the ages Of eight and twelN
wears in any business or service whatev'
Ausng any part of the term during whiC
1hs public schools of the district in whiC
ahs child resides are in session; or to en-
eIoy any child between the ages Of twel'
and fourteen years Of age who does nc
AZ the time of such employment preseI
certificate signed by the superintendel
u schools of the city or district in whiC
abe child resides, or, where there is l
slIerintendent, by such other officer
5hss school authorities may designate, ce
gtying that such child has complied vii
aE0 law relating to attendance at scho
3umg the school year between Septemb
MO July then current and any pers'
who shall employ any child contrary
ne provisions of this section shall,
zach offence, forfeit and pay to the trei
1rer Of the city or village or TO the sup
visor Of the town in which such often
sail occur penalty of $50 the sau
~ hen paid, TO be added to the pub
aohool moneys Of the city, village or d
trict In which the offence occurred,
Another section Of the bill authors
a1aattendance officer" to arrest witho
warrant any child between eight a
sixteen years OF age who is truant fr,
shool. Truant schools are to be est
ashed in the cities, and ths city AuthC