New-York tribune., 1906-08-25
TRUANT OFFICER'S WORK.
Must Be Just and Discriminating g
Judge of Al Cases.

In a short time the schools Of the city wifi be
open and the truant officer will again be busy.
The truant problem OF the school authorities under
the State Education law is one OF the most serious
20 be contended with. Next TO the part time
problem. the difficulty OF providing places for
children 20 attend school. comes the problem OF
making children attend In round numbers no less
than fourteen thousand truants have been caught
end returned TO school IN a single year. OF this
number q small proportion (about per cent each
year, are incorrigible 90 require sentence 10
reform schools. OF those committed. however TO
model reform schools like the New York Juvenile
asylum. the majority become good citizens.
Cases OF truancy not the only ones that give
the school authorities trouble In twelve months
the q truant officers have investigated as many
1881 cases OF absence from school. This does
not represent all their work by any means. for
nearly 2oOoO required more than one investigation;
some as many three or four. Cases OF truancy
are the most important OF all. but some idea OF
the ignorance and negligence prevailing in the
city may be derived from the fact that during the
year the truant officers discovered some three
thousand children who Gid not go to schoOI because
they not compelled 20. and some eighteen hun
dred children who were employed Illegally during
school hours All Of these children of course.
sent 80 school By the officers as discov-
cred
Il IS eEaggerztion 10 say that the New York
fruant officers lot is not happy one He is large
ly responsible for the enforcement OF the law
that every child between the ages of eight and
fourteen years must attend school regularly The
enforcement OF this law !n districts like the lower
East Side. where IL is not uncommon to find sew
eEal hundred persons living IN five story tene
rent house. requires tlreless vigilance The physi
ca task OF climbing the stairs and interrogating
the residents in five or six tenement houses scat
tered from end OF district another Of itself
great strain on mans patience and energy, for
IL would do TO conduct these visits perfume
torily. AS rule these cases OF non-attendance
at school have too many peculiar and extenuating
circumstances 10 warrant disposing Of them ac-
cording 70 hard and fast rules. and the officer
must play the part OF just and discriminating
Judge.
The work Of a truant officer begins when that Of
parent or guardian has apparently ended Here is
an example Of the procedure: When the usual no.
fice mailed 20 the home OF absent child is
neglected or when unsatisfactory excuse is
made the truant officer makes 1t his business to
visit the home and investigate the case, and East
SIDE life behind doors. generally closed TO all
strangers except officers in uniform is revealed TO
the tTuanr officer in manner seldom .shown 20
any one else.
Heading his list. for instance. there may be a
Russan-Jewish name that looks like a OF
blind staggers 90 any but a native eye and would
give any one who did not speak Yiddish lockjaw
20 pronounce. The officer goes down a side street
ard crouches low 70 enter d!lapidated four story
tenement house. picks his way through dark
entry and goes I'D the creaky stairs into an at
rnosDhere composed Of bad air and the odors from
sside room by a woman who speaks nothing but
YiGlfeh The room Is about ten feet square, with
one window looking out into an airshaft Al a
ulain pine table sits boy, with his hat on his
head eating his breakfasts cup OF thin soup and
.sIyi1x aren't YOU az school?' the officer asks.
The boy gulks and does not answer. His mother
explains that he wont so TO school; neither viii
le 20 20 work lie is only fourteen years old, but
80. has lost all control Og him. His faYorite Occu-
patton is loahng about the streets with gang q
blind Tor TWO years and his mother has supported
The family by taking IN washing. Once she had
hoUes that her would be a helD TO her but,
instead Ct that he is q lndrance. She says his
father gave him a beating the day before Tor
rambling away her weeks earnings She declares
sasf she has done everything she could Tor him.
but now that is useless. she Wouid ra atler nave
FniDd thai her story IS true. and he makes q :
ranqements TO come the next day ana nave the
fov committed 20 fruant school. -,
The reKf case may be entirely 0iffeTent, Ans
boz IS twelve years Old say. and very Irregular w
his attendance at school. His mother explains tlat
ne cannot go 30 school because ne has no sloes
and stockings There are three children elhO-
.ether IN fiss family two girls and the boy. The
father IS too sick work and zoo stubborn 20 go
70 the hospital The mother. despite heart trouple
Supports The family. She does the best she cam
she SAYS but the children must take turns AT
going tn school. She cannot give them all snOes
and Stockings, they must wear IN turn the only
snd when he has the shoes and stockings goes
lie Law says that the boy must go 20 school
until ae fs fourteen years Old. and makes allow
aneee for lack OF shoes and stockings, what Is
10 be done IN this Sase2 The officer promises 20
Gee that of the charity organizations keeps fe
boz supplied with tie necessary articles OF cloth