The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-11-04
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.
4 uot Campaign to Bo Instituted Agains,
Troublesome Children.

Troublesome Chiidrcn.
A. regular monthly meeting OF E O. school
Blaol was held last evening. n e. session
was a brief one aud very little business out
side of the routine order was transacted. The
Directors iu attendance at the meeting were
Mes5rs. Dewitt, Upuna, Baugh, Higgins,
Edwards. KEEPER, sullivan, BRITT. Corners,
Coughlin, Brcslin. Dove aud James.
The most important business considered re-
lated TO reports made by Superintendent
Cooper and Truont Officer Smith aud re-
suited ia power to act being conferred upon
the officials who have the truancy affairs in
hand. This was brought about by an appeal
that the Board support the officials in setting
an example for troublesome boys.
Among the first matters brought to the at
tention Of the Board was a communication
from Henry Cook, janitor Of the Lloyd street
school building In consequence Of the new
evening high school hoving heen established
i'm his building he wanted s. per month in
crease in salary. The schedule now gives
him S12 per month in addition 10 his salary
for day work aud the Board, ON motion of
Mr.. Buugh, decided to make no increase.
Superintendent j. W. Cooper's report was
a lengthy one. The following statistics ON
last months attendances were submitted
Monthly cnrollment-BOys, 1913; girls. 1884;
total, $500. Average daily attendance-Boys,
11S0; girls, 1882; total, 2471. Average per
~centape Of attendance-Boys, 03; girls, 90:
total, %. There were 1,OS3 pupils present at
every session. Visits by citizens, IA. by
directors, 1l3. The night schools opened at
the time ordered by the Board and had an
enrolment Of 460 pupils, aside from the en-
rollmcut Of 81 in the new night school.
TIL report then dwelt briefly upon the
work of the truant officer and recommended
that the Board fix Nov. 22nd as the day
when all pupils who are not attending a day
school, engaged at work. or cannot furnish
sufficient excuse, must begin attendance at
school. The report then recited the pro-
visions Of the Act Of July -, 1907, which
amended the previous Acts on compulsory
education. The parts of the law recited
were as follows
That every parent, guardian or other per-
son in this Commonwealth, having control or
charge of a child or children between the
ages Of eight and sixteen years, shall be re-
quired to send such child or children to a day
school in which the common English branches
are taught, and such child or children shall
attend such school continuously during at
least seventy per centum Of the time in
which schools in their respective districts
shall be in session, which period of com
pulsory attendance shall begin at the be-
ginning Of the school term, or at a time fixed
by the board Of directors or controllers when
they meet to organize, unless such child OF
children shall be excused from such attend,
ancg by the board of the school district in
which the parent, guardian or other person
resides, upon the presentation to said board
Of satisfactory evidence showing such child
or children are prevented from attendance
upon school or application to study, by
va.aNy1 aLwrF,.T 80 ill., Ua-u.nk go
Provided, That this act shall not apply TO any
child between the ages of thirteen and six,
teen years that is regularly engaged in any
useful employment or service :" . = III
such person In parental relation to such child
shall not elect 20 care for and maintain such
child in such private school, nor consent to
his care, maintenance and instruction in the
public special school, then such conduct OF
the child shall be deemed disorderly conduct,
and the child may be proceeded against as a
disorderly person; and upon conviction
thereof shall be sentenced to such special
school fora term not exceeding the remainder
of the school term in his district, subject to
parole for good conduct by the authorities OF
such special school after four weeks attend.
ance. Such special schools shall be conducted
with a view to the Improvement and to the
restoration, as soon as practicable, of suCl
+child 10 the school or institution elsewhere
which he may he lawfully required to at.
tend. The board of directors or controller.
of any city or school district not having such
special school, may contract with any other
city or district having such school for the
care, maintenance and instruction therein OF
children whom such boards of directors OF
controllers might require to attend such
school if there were one in their own city oil
district"
Superintendent Cooper said that the truant
officer had a case which came under the pro.
visions of the law and he recommended that
the School Board make arrang ements Ia
proceed against the father in the case, or put
the boy in some house Of correction.
The report Of Truant officer Smith fol-
lowed and stated that during the month
ending October 18th, last, he investigated l3
cases Of truancy and 80 cases of detention al
home. The officer stated he had hoped that
truaucy in the day schools had been broken
up, and he believed it would be were it moi
for one Polish boy, a youngster ID years Of
age who had challenged all measures oil
correction and reform other than the extreme
relief afforded under the law. The hoy sleeps
away from home many times, frequently
lodging in cellars and freight cars. The Off.
Ger also stated that his investigations showed
that at least 10 per cent. of the truancy cases
were attributable to the influences of this one
boy, who not only induces other boys tC
play truant, but keeps them away from theil
home all night. Twice the offender was ar.
rested by the truant officer, taken before
Superintendent Cooper and punished. but
there was no beneficial effect. AS a last resort
the boy was changed to a school room next
to the superintendent office, so that he
could be kept under surveillance, but
within half an hour the boy slipped away
almost under the eyes Of the superintendent
and truant officer and vent TO White Haven
on a freight train. He has returned to towr