New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-20
AND TRUANTS.
CHILDREN WHO CANNOT AND WILL NOT
ATTEND SCHOOL.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOING ALL IN ITS
POWER TO PROVIDE FOR BOTH CLASSES
WHAT COMMISSIONER HRENTISS SAYS

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOING ALL IN ITS
POWER TO PROVIDE FOR BOTH CLASSES
WHAT COMMISSIONER PRENTIsS SAYS
Two important questions relating to the public
schools have been brought prominently to the
notice OF the public recently and have received
the attention and consideration of the thinking peo-
pie OF this city that they well merit. for both
of the questions OF vital importance 10 the wei
fare not only OF the public school system OF New
York but further than this, 10 the future we'll
being OF the vast body Of citizens OF this growing
metropolis The questions referred TO include the
recent agitation for the establishment of truant
schools and the dismay with which the report was
received week ago that the schools were to begin
the new year by shutting out 1900 OF last year
pupils because the schools they had attended were
closed for repairs while nearly 5000 more children
of school age would still be without hope Of finding
a place In the schools at present The members
Of the Board OF Education declare that they are
doing everything in their power TO remedy both
OF the evils referred 10. Handicapped, as they
are by lack OF funds because OF insufficient ap-
preparations and the failure OF the city TO sell Its
bonds and by the vast amount OF extra work de-
voiving upon them under the new school law
THE PRESENT ACCOMMODATIONS.
There are now 10000 children in the public
schools 1900 will be admitted as soon as the re-
pairs on eleven old buildings are completed. $500
children are In the private schools and 3c In the
parochia schools making the total number OF
children whose education is provided for 2isoo0
According 10 the reports In superintendent Jas
per's office the 5000 children OF school age now
shut out for lack OF accommodations have no hope
Of securing an entrance the schools until the fall
Of next year Then II is expected that 5000 or more
new sittings in school buildings for which the con-
tracts have been given out or which VIII be con-
tracted for before January next will be available.
Every effort will be made by the School Building
Department 10 push forward the Work on these
new buildings A partial remedy is 10 be found in
admitting some of the excess school population 10
tho schoos for halliday sessions In enrolling new
rupils preference is TO be given 10 applicants be-
tween the ages OF eight and twelve, as the law De
clares such 10 be truants If they are not In actual
attendance In the schools
The necessity Of some immediate action on the
mart OF the Board OF Education regarding the tru-
ancy question was made apparent some months
eeo when the Legislature passed law which says
that "the school authorities OF any city or school
district may establish schools or set apart separate
rooms in public school buildings for children be-
tween eight and sixteen years OF age. who are IA
bitual truants from instruction upon which they
are required to attend who are nsubordinate or
disordcrly during their attendance upon such In
structIon or irregular In such attendance Such
school or room shall be known az truant school;
hut no person convicted of crimes or misdemeanoTs
other than truancy. shall be committed thereto
THE BOARDS ACTION UNDER THE LAW.
Acting upon the authority given to the Board of
Education by the passage Of this law. the Board
took steps 70 establish truant school in building
formerly Grammar School No %. at One-hundrcd-
and-ffty-elghth-s: and Thrd-ave.. now occupied by
the Commissioner of Stree; Improvements. Twenty
third and Twenty-fourth wards. On July !. last.
the Board OF Education received word from the
Sinking Fund Commissioners hat they did not
deem II expedient assign to the Board this buid
tt.a raff ha d.
partment to vacate the school building at present
This was at the last meeting except one OF the
Beard before the summer vacation.
When II was found that the building could not BE-
obtained at once as a temporary expedient reso-
luton offered by Commissioner Little. was passed.
by the Board asking Superintendent Jasper to In
vestigate and report In the fall as to how many
,ruan,s could be accommodated in the New-York
Juvenile ASYLUM where many OF them have been
committed I'm the past. Furthermore 1t was said
that a minority OF the Board as the law providing
for the establishment Of truant schools was no'
cd OF committing truants 10 the Juvenile Asylum
ard 10 other charitable institutions In the city
which care In part at least. for truants
The adoption Of Commissioned Titles resoiu-
ton. however raised consder1ble 1pposi,!0n 70
and that organization recently comnmiiicatsd Wit
,endent of schools Skinner. urging that iinmedi-
ale action be taken 10 establish the proposed trua1
schools especially the one at One-huhdreoa hc-
1fty-eghth-st. and Thrd-ave.
COMMISSIONER PREMISES VIEWS.
Commissioner y. A. .'rentiss was seen by
Tribune reporter In regard to the matter yesterday
He said The alleged opposition OF the Board OF
Education to the establishment OF truant schools.
which has appeared In print. II all on paper 80
far as know. the majority OF the board Is heartily
an favor OF securing Whatever truant schools are
necessary a. has already been demonstrated by
i,s attempt to establish such school at One-hun-
dred and m y-eighth-st. and Third-ave Person
ailv I believe ought a have the truant schools.
as do not favor sending truants 10 asylums. where
they have TO associate more or less with chiidfeh
OF criminal tendencies.
The Pnvey- Page law. which went into effect
In IA. summer. has thrown on our Board an I'm
nense amount of detail work formerly done by the
Local hoards OF school trustees. and We nave ndd
oIr hands full in attending 10 these details ana III
irving 10 solve problem OF how TO educate some
IA 900 children OF school age. for whom we nave
no So hooI buildings and money with which to
erect them. The Board viii act on the question OF
trusnt schools II can do anything iurther
I'm the matter Let ask however. II, IN ne
mean time. every common sense man or woman
does not agree with that II Is far better 10 DO al
in our power. first TO provide for The thousands OF
children who have made honest enort 10 bct
into the schools but have failed. and then 10 turi.
our attention 10 tina ncorrigible truantsv surely
the good should first. while the bai are lcl'
10 siirer for while II either class must be TEN
xft., ola I'D