New-York tribune., 1896-01-13

naming there was limited to fourteen weeks.
The general atmosphere OF the place bad.
Boys whose only offence was persistent refusal
To attend school We're there associated with those
who had been guilty of small crimes, with the re-
suit that they became thoroughly demoralzed. As
respects the truants the period Of fourteen weeks
was too short to effect any great reform in their
habits Of thinking and doing. The appropriation
made 10y the city for it's maintenance was $1,000
a year. of which. It is believed. only small part
was used for the benefit of the inmates.
By the Compulsory Education law Of 1894 the city
Of Brooklyn obliged to provide place In which
truan,s could be confined and subjected 10 proper
moral and educational Influences; and by act of
the Legislature Of 1925 the Truant Home trans
ferred from the control OF the Common Council. and
It's management vested in the Board OF Education.
This act took effect July OF last year. when the
Board of Education assumed control of the inst-
tuition with the understanding that no more petty
criminals were TO be committed to It, but that IL was
to be used as place Of restraint exclusively for
truants
THE CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT.
Ar that time there were a considerable num-
Der of BOYS in the home. but their terms gradu-
ally expired, untl on october | only four were
left and these took their departure early In that
month with the beginning OF October the Board
took active charge OF the institution, the name
OF which was changed TO the Truant School 1t
W. French, an experienced educator, who. up to
the close of the last school year. had been the
principal Of public school In Brooklyn With
the change OF management the old period OF four
teen weeks detention abolished. and there is
now no limit the time that boy may be kept
there. save that all discharged at the close OF
the school year.
The snow sparkling In the bright sunlight
last Wednesday morning when the writer arrived
at the Truant School, which can be plainly seen
from the windows OF the elevated train Just be-
fore the Cypress Hills station is reached lie was
in the company Of j. H. Pitts. a clerk In the offce
Of School Superintendent Maxwell, under whose d-
rection the Truant School has passed. Mr. Pitts
has special charge OF the attendance department.
which deals with the truants OF the city. and thore
fore IL well informed regarding the work OF the
Truant School.
The Board of Education has already decided
to enlarge the building. nearly TO double
its capacity. and plans for the extension are now
being prepared The present building cannot ac-
commodate comfortaih more than 100 boys. but
the supply would not exceed the demand u room
were made for 500 As 1t is only the most persistent
absentces from school be placed under re-
stra,nt bu, the condition OF things will be i'm
proyed by the beginning OF the next school year.
when 200 can he provided for At present there arc
seventy-four boys in the school There have been
.,.rtyeigbt since the Board OF Education as
sumed charge. but four have been for various rea-
sons discharged
Ths need OF better accommodations is apparent
from an inspection Of the building The boys
dining room. for example, is In the basement. ana