Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-04
EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.



Education held conference Thursday
afternoon concerning a compulsory edu-
cation act which is TO DO presented TO
tho General Assembly. Among those
present Eeie Mrs. A. ID. Warner, Mrs.
John II. Danhy, Miss Margaret Mather,
Misl Emma Worreli and Mrs. Charles
$ Rowland of the New Century Club,
President Charles Baird and Secretary
i. u. Jones OF tho Board of Educa-
tioE, DR.. 4. G.. Sbortlidge. L. Z. Nor
row, a. G..McCausland and Samuel II.
Daynard, members OF the board, and
tho Rev. Thomas A. mcCurdy, ID. d..
Col. benjamin Nields and John Ii.
Dandy.
The. proposed act was considered in
SECTIONS. II was decided to havo tho
act Apply to the city of Wilmington,
for which purpose it had been drawn.
rather than to the whole State. 1t was
held that il tho law worked well hero
that would mako it arbitrary for like
law in the remainder of the Stale. The
point was raised by Mr.. Baynard that
it would take money TO carry out the
act aud Mrs. Rowland inquired fur
what purpose. President Baird said
that officers would have to be ap-
pointed TO enforce the Law, but Mira.
Howland said the policemen would do
that duty.
On the question OF tho ages to which
the law should apply Mr.. Morrow sug-
gested to II years, and Mr.. McCaus.
land, to Is years. Mrs. Rowland
suggested to IA years, aud after some
discussion those limits were decided
upon.
As TO the number of days O child
must attend school motion by M.
Baynard that it be during what Is
known as the school year" was adopted.
The section ia regard to tho infiic-
ton of fines was altered upon Mr.. Nc
CauEland's motion, to 81 70 So for the
first oiiense, and s. TO $40 for the
second conviction. Up to this time the
women present had rot voted, and DIR.
Shorilidge asked, "Aro the ladies to
vote?" The privilege was accorded
them and US they favored the sections
previously voted upon, those sections
were allowed TO stand.
The matter OF notifying parents or
guardians was left with the auperin-
tendent of public schools.
A semi-annual revision of the list of
children of school age 10 be prepared
by the police was provided for. In
section 6 the power 10 appear before
the municipal court against incorrigi-
bic pupils waa left with the Board of
Education. 1t was remarked that tho
women wanted the board to father the
bill. wheEeupon one of th5 women
said: Tho women will mother it. p"
The Legislative Committee will report
tho acr back 10 the Board of Education
al its next meeting, and the board will
endeayor 10 secure its passage by the
Legislature. Tho act as decided upon
reads:
An act to provide for the attendance of
| children in the schools of the city of Will
| mington.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House OF
Representatives of the State OF Delaware III
| General Assembly met:
Sec. |. That every person, resident of the
| city of Wilmington, having under his or
| her CONTROL u child or children between the
| the ages of s and II years. shall be required
| to send such child or children to school in
which the common English branches are
taught during what is known as the school
| year. Provided, however that ii the person
| ur persons having such child or children III
| charge shall show to the satisfaction of the
1 Board of Public Education of the city oil
| Wilmington that such child or children
have received for like period of time i'll
4
| in the public schools, OF by certificate oil
q competent physician shall show such chile
or children to be PHI sicaily or mentally in
competent. they shall be exempt from the
provisions Of this act.
Sec. .. For every neglect of duty imposed
by the first section of this act the person of
Tending shall he guilty of misdemeapo
and shall. upon conviction thereof befor'
"the municipal court for the city of vii
mngtou," forfeit and pay fine not les
than one dollar or more than five dollars or
the first conviction, and a fine not less thai
five dollars or more than ten dollars fo
each subsequent conviction.
Provided, that before such penalty shall
be incurred the parent, guardian or otbe
person liable therefor shall be notified il
writing by the superintendent of the publ
schools in the city of Wilmington of sucl
neglect and shall be have three days there
after 10 comply with the requirements o
this act.
Sec. 3. The fines imposed by this act shall
when collected, be paid to the treasurer o
the Board Of Public Education of the city o
Wilmington, to be by him accounted 70
and applied in the same manner rs othe
moneys coming into his hands are applies
for school purposes. ...- .....
Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the chief o
police OF the city of Wilmington, by an
, through the police officers of the said city
to obtain Il true and correct list of all chill
drcn between the ages of $ and II years
obtaining the name, age and residence q
each child, together with the name of tn
person III whose charge or control the chill
, or children may be, and such other IN
: formation aS may be necessary. such Ii:
shall be revised semi-annualy during Al
gust and January and returned TO the sal
Z superintendent Of public schools IN the cit
of Wilmington, who shall Immediately fun
| niSh the principal of each school with
correct list of all such children within tn
0 school district of the school of which sal
principal shall have charge.
| Sec. 5. 1t shall be the duty of each prime
, | pal Of Il school to report to the said snperiT
tendcnt at the closc of each school month
the names Of all children in his or her dis
trct on the list 50 furnished by the sal
t superintendent who are not enrolled in sal
. school, or who have been absent IRON sal
! school five consecutive days during I'll
: | month for which the report shall be mad
;, and then shall be the duty Of the said supe
A intendent to notify the parent or guardia
or person in charge, of the absence of sue
L child or children from said school, and
y after live days he tail to comply with tt
provisions of this act the said superb
!. tcndent shall then enter complaint befo
. the municipal court of said city again
q such person or persons violating the pr
visions of this act
Sec. u. The Board of Public Education
theCity of Wilmington shall have power
make suitable provision for such children
}. may be deemed truant5 or needing speci
II discipline. Ii after a certain length of tim
l., at the diycretion of said board, such Childre
"a are stin rot amenable to discipline or a
" Irregular in attendance. said board sha
2 hnvc the authority to appear before u
u municipal court Of the city of WilmingtC
| nd l..I. cd yfFriI, "a,