Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-18
FOR COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Discussion OF the Proposed Act at the HOARD
Of Education Ronins.

Discussion OF thu Proposed ACT Nv NV
Of Education Ronins.
The Board OF Public Education. ut
special meeting on Monday considereu
tie 80 called compulsory education ACT.
President Charles Baird was IN inc
chair, but in tho absence OF o quorum
the bill was discussed informally. Mrs.
Benian,in Eields. Mrs. Charles 5. How
land, Mro. John II. Dandy and Mise
Emily Worrel OF the New Century
Club, John II. DANNY, Charles 5.
iIuwand and Lewis G. Vandegrift were
present in the interest ct the bill.
President Baird expressed himself IN
favor of bill for the whole State, but
was willing that the Legislature make
| IL apply to the city of Wilmington
alone. Ho favored truant echool, go
| that children who refuse to 60 To
school regularly may be placed in 1t
and kept from acknowledging others.
DR.. L. q. Shertlidge expressed him.
solf in favor of requiring children to
attend school. He thought it might
be well to make the ages from to ~
rather than from 7 to IA years. he
knew three families In which the chill.
/ dren had been required to work and
keep their parents in drink, and held
that il the bill should roinedy such
cases it would do good. The question
had been raised as to whether the
board had right to invade house
and SEQ il the children go to school.
and compel them to so. In regard to
the truant school, tho doctor thought
il the law was passed the truant school
might he secured.
Samuel Il. Belts suggested that as
the municipal court might be abolished
it be specified that the cases come be-
fore any committing magistrate.
Superintendent David W. Harlan said
he was in favor of tho main features OF
the bill. He agreed with the president
that thore should be place to which
to send the bad boys End girls.
Mrs. Rowland inquired what became
Of the hog vino failed to attend school
and lost his seat. President Baird
Thought hr would he adrift
Luwis &. Vanderbilt announced that
hs was present to show his aympatnS
with inc movement. He was convert
to the compulsory education idea. Al
first be had opposed it, but had thought
upon il and reached favorable opinion
Of it. 1t seemed to him that reform
OF this kind might we'll start IN Thu
city of Wilmington, the most thiGlil.
populated part Of the State. Tho BoarI
0f Education could give il test, anI
the initiative and trial here nigh
show the hest means for the Who'll
state. Mr.. Nandegrift hold that tn
! proposed act was not stringent, that j
} showed itself to have been prepared b.
persons wha did not desire TO bG hart
! on anyone. On the point of trunn
school no suggested that one roou
: might be act apart for the incorr!gibl
:, pupils and the mere fact that pupi
had to be aont to that room woul,
have effect upon the child and he yer
3 aovpro upon it's parents ii they had an
sOf respect whatever.
a Miss Worrell thought that Their
4 would not be man? incorrigihieH Sh
, Taovrad years as tho stniting age.
Col. G. M, Latch favored con,
pulsory education, and thought til
II board might do vol TO pass this la
oven though it might not be as psrfec
v MS desired.
Z william Turner also favored con
r pulsury education, but could not &c
g how tho law was going to he executed
y ] no children wore compelled TO 20
erhonl, and yet in the district in whic
3 he lived schools wera already crowdu
Q and children were outside. He accepte
" Dr. shnrtlidgn's suggestion that pr,
vlaiun should be made for these chi
L dren.
y The question was raised as to wheth
< parent could he fined twice under Il
q FIRST section. There was differences
opinion On that point.
Lifs. Nieids made ar eloquent spoeC
oil tho limo of tho moral inf1uence
" the teachers upon Ghildrnn who hu
y nothing but improper and degradii
6 inRusnce at home. From hor expsrien
u as a visitor sho had seem tho results
Is tn0 good influence exercised by Il
ie teachers. and she pleaacd that Il
u board keep tao moral aide in mind.
A bill covering tho whole State hi
At hcau dofoatpd by the last Legisatur
10 whereas one for Wilmington mig
~ have gone through.
IN NJ. ID. Crossan expressed a fayorah
- opinion.
- Samuel II. Baynard said that he "
~ loath 10 advocate measure viii
~ might require more money than I
hoard 10 likely to secure aho
ID what ia headed in developing su
" facilities as will provide room for eve
~ child in the city.
III Mr.. Turner suggested that the q
have u pruviso that the Euard be pr
D. virlo with the means to carry il nut.
~ Mrs. llowiand said that II there We
only 1TG children out of school, as I
o. police reported, they would not
O. much trouble.
President Baird announced that t
as bill would como before tho board at
next regular meeting and the conferen
:, came TO an end.