New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
TO COMPEL Pupils TO ATTEND SCHOOL
THE COMPULSORY EDUCATION LAW TO GO
INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY Its
POSSIBLE EFFECTS.

The Legislature passed on May II. 1874. act
amended on May % 1876 compelling the attendance
OF children between the ages OF eight ana fourteen
years at public private schools fourteen weeks
in each year eight weeks at least Of which attend
ance should be consecutive II not in attendance
at public or private schools, home instruction for
the same period required. The last Legislature
adopted on May r. 1894. what Is known as the
Compulsory Education Law. This law required
the regular attendance Of every child between eight
and sixteen years old upon instruction at school
in which at least reading, spelling. writing. arith-
metlc English grammar and geography are taught
or upon equivalent instruction by a competent
teacher elsewhere shan at school. fine OF $40
is imposed upon parents guardians who neglect
the Observance of this law, and upon firms or cor
poratons employing children between the ages OF
eight and twelve during public school term time
The law goes into effect on January J. 1885 Teach
ers are required to supply accurate record or the
attendance OF all children between the ages men
toned Provision Is made also in the law for arrest
without warrant OF any child between eight ana
sixteen found away from home as truaht from
instruction section also provides for the esiab-
ilshrnent Of ruant schools that is free schools set
apart in separate rooms In public school buildings
for children between seven and sixteen VINO are
habltual truants from instruction.
Considerable interest is taken In the effect OF this
law as well as In the ability OF the oihcers 10 exc
cute It, Superintenle dent John Jasper in ms report
~ December 81 1893 referred the subject or
compulsory education and the general inierpreta-
ton of the old law and said tina; there was nothing
In that Interpretation ito prevent children between
the ages Of eight and fourteen from lettering on the
streets and in public places during achooi houfS
after they have completed their term OF compulsory
attendance-fourteen weeks in the year ne adden
that while the appearance OF children or schooi Az
upon the streets during the day time IN arg hu"
hers seemed TO Indicate that the law II not efoIccu
investigation, however carefully made hau pio.eu
incorrect. lie presented ln'
OF the Police Department 10 show the Dehenceht
effect of the enforcement Of the Ola law; IL ap-
neared from this statement that during Inc year :
1870 1874. just prior 10 the ehaclneht "a 1o
law tho average number OF arrests Wa i,.If "iile
during the year 1893 the number OF chhnteh ar
rested was only AL. The interesting iact was also
revealed in this table Of statistics tha lruhhcy mas
been suppressed TO great extent IN o.V ,nere
1897 in 1874 81. Coming down to lSs9 ohiy ~ hIesas
for truancy recorded In 1871 ue nni"n,' 100
arrests rose to A. in 1891 II recedcd 10 -? IN io'.
10 % and in 1893 TO 26 These statistics sho" that
We're l8 arrests while during the fve years OF 1883
10 1899 inclusive the total was ohIy IJ'' III,
erlntendent Jasper pointed with much sa, ~
raction a few DAYS ago to n Tribune reporter ths
striking decrease in the numper ol oansed NON
proves he said that in spite or the increased Pop
ulation the Board Of Education ano the orr ii
Department have almost completely ,chechcu th's
disposition TO and practice OF trusnoy. :. No
cented with favor by the school authorities
Professor T.. b. Blodgctt. OF syfacuse' rece h,
made the statement that OF 5000 chiinfrh o. scnoo,
nuc &, that CITY only between 1000 ana lh"w were
registered in the public scho1s' AM o',in oiou,
in The private and parochial schools; leaving apou,
~ ooo n he accounted for He added that IN school
attendance Syracuse compared we" VIII" o''ei
cities.