Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-09
A COMPULSORY BILL
Framed by the Commissioners
to Be introduced.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
HAS URGENTLY RECOMMENDED
THE MEASURE.
Senate Committee on the District Will
Give It Careful Attention
Some Provisions.
BOARD OF EDUCATION

The Senate committee on the District of
Columbia will give careful attention during
the coming session to a bill providing for
compulsory education in the District of Co
lun2bia. Such bill was before the last
Congress with the approval Of the Com
mssioners. 1t was reported to the Senate
favorRbly by Senator Dillingham;, but it
shared the fate of many other measures
that were not started on the way through
Congress until late day. The bill was not
introduced in the Senate until January 8
of the present year, and was reported to
the Senate February 2S. But at that late
date there was little chance for the pass
age of any bill that had not already gone
through the House.
The same bill that was reported to the
Senate will again be introduced by Sena-
tor Gallinger. 1t is intended to provide
an effective compulsory education law for
the District in place of the present law,
which Is regarded as Ineffective and obso-
lete. The bill has been prepared by the
Commissioners upon recommendations from
the board of education. 1t is believed 70
contain the best features of the most mod
ern state laws bearing upon the subject.
More School Accommodations.
1t has not been regarded as practical to
enforce such a law until the provision OF
buildings for schools In the District FUR
nished accommodations for all who applied
and for a gradual increase in the number
of attendants 1t is believed that that time
has arrived although more buildings are
needed. At any rate. the present schoo!
accommodations are sufficient Tor many OF
the children who are now kept out OF the
schools In order that all children can De
accommodated it will be necessary to have
additional school facilities, but at the same
time there is no reason why the work OF
bringing in the delinquents should not be-
GIN at once.
mates that there are 5000 children OF school
age who are not enrolled il the schools OF
the District Of Columbia. During the pres
ent term no child applying for enrolment
has been turned away from the schools, and
the number of halliday schools Is being
materially decreased. 1t is said that there
is practically no truancy on the part OF the
scholars who are enrolled. In the entire en-
roIlmeut of about so, 600 it Is said that there
are no more than about 15o habitual tru-
ants There are no halliday schools be-
yond the first three grades, and there VIII
soon be no more third-grade Schools that
do not run the entire day.
Provision Of the Bill.
The bill for compulsory education pro-
yides that children between eight and four
teen years Of age shall be regularly In
structed in the elementary branches of
knowledge. including reading. writing. Eng
lish grammar, geography and arithmetic,
unless their physical or mental condition is
such as to render such attendance in
struction for the whole period impracticable.
For failure on the part Of the persons hav-
ing control of child to meet the require
rnents Of this law trial In the Police Court
and a fine of not more than $50 or irnprison-
ment of not to exceed sixty days are pro-
vided
The bill also provides that incorrigible or
vicious children of school age shall be sent
to ungraded schools for instruction, and
the beard OF education is authorized to es-
tablish such schools. In order to enforce
to appoint seven persons, who shall be des-
ignated attendance officers" and shall re-
ceive salary OF $500 per annum for such
services The bill also provides that no
child under sixteen years of age shall be
employed In any factory mercantile es-
tablishment or in any business that will
prevent the child from attending school dur
ing the day. Any person making a false
statement concerning the age OF child in
this connection may be fined $40. If any
parent or guardian shall be unable TO send
a child to school, in compliance with this
act, the board of education may take such
action in its discretion may be deemed
necessary.
The Bill In the House.
Next Monday Representative Babcock Of
Wisconsin, chairman of last years District
committee, and who will hold the same
post in this Congress, will reintroduce the
bill providing for compulsory education in
the District of Columbia.