Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1902-04-24
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Features of a Law Enacted by Mary
land Legislature.

The compulsory education act passed
by the general assembly at the late
session and which was approved by
the governor yesterday is distinctly a
rev departure for this latitude. Wheth-
er it will be a benefit can only be
known by the result. The bill was des-
ignated at Annapolis as the Arundel
Club bill'' and was understood to have
been prepared and sent to the legisla-
ture by that organization of ladies in
this city. 1t was intended that the act
should apply to the whole state. But
the representatives of all the counties
except Allagany asked that the act
should not be effective in their coun-
ties. and so the new law applies to Bal
timore city and Allegany county only.
This will be the proving ground or eX-
pertinent station for the system. If it
succeeds il will be time enough then to
extend it to other fields.
The feature of the bill which deals
with child labor, it is understood, COM
mended it to the labor organizations.
Under this new law all children be
tween the ages of eight and twelve
years, physically and mentally fit, must
attend the public schools while they
are in session, unless it can be shown
that they are learning elsewhere the
studies taught in the public schools.
Children from twelve to sixteen years
of age must also attend school unless
they are lawfully employed, and their
employment is forbidden unless they
can read and write English sentences
or are in attendance at an evening or
some other school. The school board
is to appoint attendance officers, not to
exceed twelve in number, whose COM
pensatiOn is to be fixed by the mayor
and council. These officers have au-
thCrity to arrest without warrant
which seems to be a bad feature
children between eight and twelve
years found away from home an
school. and to visit factories where
children are employed in order to see
their condition and that the law is
obeyed. The mayor and council have
authority to establish parental
schools" to which habitual truants are
to be committed by justices of the
peace.
The principals of private schools are
required to report to the school board
or to an attendance officer the names of
all their enrolled pupils who may be
absent without lawful excuse for three
days in eight consecutive weeks. Prin-
cipals of schools have authority to
grant excuses for absence for proper
cause. When the next police census is
taken the population of school age is
to be ascertained and reported. The
penalties for viola tions of the law
such as harboring truants or inducing
children to remain away from school
or failing TO send them to school or en-
plCying them contrary to the terms of
the act, are, in every instance, severe
fines
1t has not been stated whether this
law is original with the Baltimore
ladies. There are compulsory education
laws in effect in some OF the northern
and western states, but we do not know
whether just such a law as this has
ever been tried. 1t is, of course, GER
t2il that a law may be an entire sue
cess smong one set of people or under
certain circumstances and dismal
failure elsewhere, and under other con-
ditions. No law of this kind. affecting
so intimately the homes and families
OF the people. can succeed unless it Is
supported by the public approval and
sympathy. Beformers may enact vol
umes Of laws. but without this support
they are as dead as faith without
works. If this law is put in full opera
ton in Baltimore city and Allegany
county. its workings and results will
be watched with intense interest by
the people all over the state.-Balti-
more Sun.