New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-18
THE NEW TRUANT SCHOOL.
1T STANDS BETWEEN THE ybLiO
SCHOOLS AND REFORMATOkY
INSTITUTIONS.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE COMPULSORY EDUCATION
Az THAT AppI LES TO ALI. CHILDREN

ENFORCEMENT OF THE COMPULSORY EDUCATION
LAW THAT APPLIES TO ALL CHILDREN
UNDER SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE.
The Truant School, opened last week by the
Board of Education at No 215 East Twenty-hrst-
st. is designed to stand between the pubic IN
dustrial and parochial schools and reformatory
institutions. Hitherto there has been no way vi
dealing with truants other than by comm''ns
them TO a reformatory. From now on the boaro
OF Education will assume control OF all ch"ore"
found violating the law, and those who nave oeeh
most disorderly or irregular will be taken 10 the
Truant School or committed to an institution out
II IL expected that 30 per cent of the cases Will be
satisfactorily closed after short term Vi co"'
fnement in the Truant School The fact that the
law Is to be enforced and that the schooi au-
thories have full power to infct the peha''ies
provided will he. It is thought, sufficient 20 con-
vince children that 1t will be wsest to avail them-
selves voluntarily of the educational privileges
offered by the city.
The Compulsory Education law applies 10 al
children under sixteen Those over fourteen may
obtain n certificate from the Board OF heai'h
showing that they have attended school 9'' o"yS
in the year and may Their obtain employment III
stores or factories Newsboys and bootblacks ana
boys employed pedder1' wagons ana iru''
stands will be required 10 show that they nave
complied with the law Any one VINO enpoy'
children Illegally may be fined $50 ana pa'e"''
who have neglected to their children ~
attend school NAV be summoned to the Court OF
Specia; Sessions and fined s. for the irst oHehce
and so for the second. Twenty attendance o"ce'a
have bcen appointed for the work OF Drlngihs 'lo
truant within the reach OF the law. ana the ci''-
dren will be arrested by officers from the po"ce
force ANY child found truant away from ho'"c
may be arrested without a warran,
PARENTS RESPONs BILE.
But in no case Will the parent be reIieVeu VI .'i'
responsibility Of educating and supporting n''
child as the expense OF maintaining IL AT ,he
Truan School will he the same as at any other III
stitrtion receiving money from the city ~ cents
a day. or 50 II a month.
The building secured for the schOO, was formerly
used as an Industrial school by the Childrens Ala
Society. and was bought from that society ior *o,
900 II AFFORDS accommodation for the confinement
of fifty pupils.
NO PROVISION FOR GIRLS
There will be an ungraded class for those VINO
have been dsorderly and irregular in the schools
they have attended during the year NO provision
is made for girls as they are not often found IN
the truant class owing to their greater dependence
on their homes. When they are so round anu
cannot be frightened by the prospect OF the court,
1t is thought that the reformatory is the ohiy place
Sixty pupils have already been enrolled, fifteen
being committed absolutely by the parents the
mainder being entered for the ungraded class
The school is the result OF suggestion made as
long ago as 1852 by Superintendent Jasper. Mr..
Jasper stated In n report that such provision was
much needed. not only for Its disciplinary Vaiue 10
the school system but for the advantage OF the ne
the present Compulsory Education law. his recon-
mendation repeated to the Board ,
to decorate the school, and will do as much as It's
means VIII allow.