The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-04
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
ON SCHOOLS IN RALEIGH
Superintendent Moses Recommends an
Amendment to Charter Of the City.
AN ANCIENT OFFICIAL REPORT THAT'S NEW

school age, we shall find that the num-
: her OF absentees is far greater than it
| should be. il ii is n good thing for
! Raleigh to maintain. by taxation, free
! schools, for the protection and welfare
of the community, then illitcracy is bad
| thing, and should not be tolerated. Win
the enlarged accommodate now made
possible, would it not be wise To con-
slider the question OF taking steps to rem
der it impossible for any child of sound
mind and body to grow up i'll this com
munity without learning III least now to
read write or spell, and the fundamental
processes Of arithmetic: No country in
the world no State in the Union, which
has an efficient system of public schools.
Is without some form of law requiring
attendance at school. While it is prob
ably true that our State at large is not
yet prepared to take any steps in this
direction am convinced tlat conditions
in Raleigh are favorable, and that an
amendment 10 orr charter authorizing
the School Committee to enforce, in It's
judgment, attendance upon some school,
public or private of al children between
hundred days in the year, would greatly
enlarge the usefulness OF the schools
in your charge and the highest and best
interC IS Of this city in this generation
and in those to come after US Sach Il
law would not only bring into the schools
many who never enter school house.
cut it would make affective the work
of very many who now come with no
serious purpose and with 10 appreliablc
benclit. Under present conditions we
have no power owe" the attendance Of
any child except to say II lie Will not
attend regularly. he shall not attend a;
All. The enforcement o. such q rule
defeats the very end we seek. for half
Il loaf is better than no bread. IN every
home. attendance on school should be
considered the only serious business or
childhood, and yet going to school is lit
tie more than farce in many families
and a mere rastimc with many children
In one Of our white schools during the
past year, ont Of an enrolment of ST.
only II attended school as many as 100
days; 81, or more than one-third the
whole number. attended less than 90
days; 1S or more ;han one-fifth the num-
bCr. attended less than - day.. One
child attended two days. another four
days, another five days; two attended
seven days, enc eight days. and one at
tended nine days These eight caildren.
or about len Per cent. Of the " nole nu l.
Der III that room, attended. on an aver
age, six days during The year.
In one Gf the colorcd hools. four
tifthS of the children enrolled failed to
attend as many as 100 days. Only about
cnc-ha,f attended as many a> 90 days:
ard one-fifth OF those enrolled attended
on an ave age Of 10 days
RALEIGH'S PLAGUE SPOT.
have often called puhlc attention
IN general terms to this crying evil. Al
least ! have conceived ii 10 be my duty
to he specific and. perhaps tire SOME II
my statements. Chat might lay bare
before YOU what seems 10 be to be the
plagn2--rot in the schools Cr Raleigh.
he teachers have laborcd INCREASINGLY
and unselfshly in vain efforts to cradi-
cate II. There sctlus to he 10 remedy
to apply hut the knife. II is said that
the traveller in Switzerland is told, a~
no journeys from canton to canton, that
he will not be able to find an iliiterofn
person in all the beautiful lana. | pay
that the day will come When. in this
lcautiNl city. we may make the same.
boast. Tut we can never do 50 until we
shall have had the use of the only
wearon ever forged Ey man that could
destroy the monster Of iteracy any
where, az the weapon is the law Of com
rulsory school attendance.
\ CITY FARM.
Tie question Of dumping grornGs is
- y a 20 n..ftn ,.f f.g4ft RAM
Mich Should claim the attention of the
Board of Aldermen. 1t has been exped-
eat. and in many instance wise for the
city 20 use some Of the low grounds, a.,
cid rayinc. for damring ashes, cinders.
and uch refuse. The careless mixture
Of garbage. and various animal and veg
ctablc debris. has led to Their aous2. As
q rc,jIlt We have had IA number OF com
paints with reference to unpleasant
ojors arising from these dumps. and eS.
reeially during tie sr1i. rcr months. In
many instances they have been well
foupGcd. and y, think That some steps
should hc taken TO ahatc this f0 m OF
Nuisance. The city Is growing ami
reading out in C;ory direction ANA
these complaints viii continue unless We
fiIld some other Tlace better adapted
fer dumping the city's refuge Whie
| believe that the best method Of dh'pos-
ing Of garbage is ~ cremation; vet
do not think this practicable at present.
think the plan more suitable 20 ou-
condition would he the purchase Of a
farm near the city TO he used a> a dump
ing ground and of sufficient size. 10 car
ry ON small farming operations, ! believe
Ia this way We could make il pay for IT.
SELF in the way Of feed for horscs; be-
side paving the expense Of operating
sane And should The city in the future
desire to pat in q crcmatory, they cou'd
dispose Of the farm for more than the
9;rchase price. However, | believe