The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-01
AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIMENT.


Francisco resolved to strictly enforce
the compulsory education law. All chill
dren who should go to school, and can
go, are to be required to attend the
wise resolution. For the law is one
which should not remain a dead letter
The State has direct and indefeasable
right in having children brought up
with some degree of learning impart-
ed to them. For that we have the free
common school system. If one may
have his children grow up in ignorance
and the influence of the street so may
set his child to work through the year
to the exclusion of instruction in the
schools, so may another and so may ALL
The regulation of the law is, therefore,
an order by society in self-defense.
But to enforce the law with strict
ness in a metropolitan center means
to drag into the schools a large ele-
ment of the tough order, boys and girls
raised in the atmosphere of crime or
neglect and Indifference, both of which
are drifts toward crime. 1t means to
sweep into the schools large body of
youths not yet criminals, perhaps, who
never, may be, but who are tough by
street association and calling, shrewd,
sharp, bright youngsters, full of world
ly knowledge a child shouldAnot have,
and quite able to keep any school in a
state of turmoil if not instruction
Philanthrophy has reached out for
these children says the San Francisco
'Argonaut,'' and for those of vicious
parentage and those of criminal envir-
onment. but it has not been able to
do what should be done.
considerable number are housed in
asyllAns, retreats, reformatories and
homes" but, every one knows the
number outside of these institutions is
greatly larger. the units of which are
not receiving a common school edu-
cation or any other kind except the
education of vice and the street.
Now shall this class be thrown into
the, common schools to the demorali-
cation and contamination of the larger
number of children? 1t is true that
We're the educational law enforced DUR
ing considerable term, the time should
come about when we might reasonably
expect the supply of toughs to dimin-
ish. 1t is in the beginning that the
greatest trouble is to be met with,
though the founts of vice will not cease
to furnish us with children who. I'M
less taken in hand by society will swell
the grosser criminal and degraded
classes.
1t is now suggested, in view Of the
undertaking the San Francisco Board
of Education is understood to be about
to embark upon, that San Francisco
follow the example of Detroit where the
same problem was presented. Ungrad-
ed schools being set apart for these
tough children and denizens of the
Street, they were gathered into them
over these schools were placed men
teachers. or at least principals, firm
compassionate, but resolute men, fitted
to control the youthful vagahond, and
by firm, discipline and benevolent heart,
impress upon him what it is society
proposes to do for him.
Into these schools habitual truants
incorrigibles and Migrants between the
ages Of 8 and 10 are brought, and their
education begun. OF course there is
hard work for the truant officers In
connection with the task, but the force
has been enlarged for the purpose. Such
schools In Detroit have thus far had SO
great a measure Of success as to satisfy
the educational authorities Of their util-
ity and beneficence. That they have
youth In them is unuuestioned. The
Detroit Police Department reports that
since the establishment Of these schools
Juvenile criminality has decreased two
thirds
Surely that is sufficiently emphatic a
verdict Of commentator. When it is
found that pupils gathered into these
schools for whom persuasion, discipline
patience, f1rmness and kindness will dc
nothing the subjects are turned over to
the reformatories. When a tough boy
or girl In one of these schools has sufff-
GENTLY advanced in good behavior and
otherwise, he or she is transferred to
one OF the regular graded schools This
promotion is looked forward to eager
ly by the children, and is a strong in
centive to good behavior.
As the "Argonaut" well says no mat
ter what the cost of such schools, they
are splendid investment if they save
children from criminal careers and les
sen Juvenile depravity. Who shall say
how far reaching the influence of such
schools is! how far their work may GO
for good beyond the pupils themselves
how much they may operate to better
conditions in families from which the
pupils come. and how great may be
their influence in the lower levels where
these children move Certainly the ex-
perience of Detroit is one not to be dis
regarded by the San Francisco Board.
New South Wales has voted in favor
of Australian federation. 1t is the
strongest of the southern colonies. Il
had, therefore, least to expect of ben
eft from permanent confederation
with the others. AS New South Wales