Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1907-10-30
COMPULSION NOT BEST
Does Not Think Compulsory Eiuca-
tion as Important as Supervision
of tie Teachers.

OF TIE IeacneES.
Columbia, special,--As result Of
he, investigation made by the State
department of education, Superinten-
dent Martin has announced that in
his report to the next general assem-
bly, lie would favor a law improving
the system of supervision of teachers
rather than the passage of a compul-
sorry education law. Some time ago
Mr.. Martin sent out to all superin-
| tendents of States and Territories
the following list of questions with
request for an early response: e
l. Have you compulsory atten-
dance school law in your State7
2. If so, is it thoroughly enforc-
ed2
8. What is the approximate an
nual cost Of the enforcement of your
law?
4. Do you have truant offieers7
5. If SO, how. are they appointed? I?
6. Do you think TINT is is practica.
BILE OF possible to enforce compul-
sorry attendance law without truant
ofiicers9
Z. What was the increase in your
attendance last yearq
s. What was the percel age Of in-
creaseq
9. Does your law apply alike to
the whole State OF is a local option
feature to it?
His department received As re-
piled. OF this number 33 gave an
affirmative reply and 12 negative
as to the existence Of compulsory law
in their respective States.
Only 80 of the superintendents ans
swered the second question in re-
gard to the thorough enforcement of
the law. Fourteen answered simply
Eyes" and 10 emo" The others
gave various answers such as the fol-
lowing: cit is we'll enforced in the
cities; "no good in country dis
tricts;" "great effort is being put
forth by the administration to en-
force it," "not in, all sections;'
"never has been enforced;n "no
good, pay no attention to it," fair
ly we'll"
The answers varied greatly as to
the annual cost of the enforcement Of
the law. About 19 superintendent
reported that they had no way of
knowing because the money was paid
out by local or county authorities.
One superintendent reported $4,000.
Another State, Indina, $53,145.19.
Another said So per day for each Of.
fcer. Another gave $500 to $500 per
county. Another gave $25 to $50 per
month for each officer. New York
State has 1,4OO truant officers.
To the forth question: "Do you
have truant officers" :" 26 answered
eyes" and 5 answered "no," Mr..
Martin says that it is noticeable that
all of these five reported that the law
was not thoroughly enforced in their
States. The answers to this question
were modified by such statements as
the following: "We have truapt Of
ficers in towns Of more than 25,000
people," "We have from one to five
truant officers in each county," saUn-
der the old law the chairman Of the
board was charged with the enforce
ment; under the new law we have
truant officers" One superintendent
reported the county officers in the
cities and county superintendent act
ing as truant officer in the country" :"
Mr.. Martin also finds that 19 States
reported that truant officers are ap-
pointed by local boards and eight say
that they are appointed by local
boards in the city and coun-
| ty boards in the country. Iii
one State truant officers are appoint
cd by the county superintendent and
are responsible to him. In another
State they are appointed by the pro-
bate court and in one State the sher-
iff and deputies act as truant officers.
Thirty-six superintendent answer
ed the question as to whether it is
practicable or possible to enforce a
compulsory attendance law without
truant officers. Of these 80 answered
"no," six answered Eyes," but quail
flied their answers with such state
ments as, "It depends upon the COM
munity,'' "but it is better with
them;' "I think it Isl" 81 think so
in rural districts. /"
Mr.. Martin says it is noticeable
that these six replies come from
States which have never had any ex-
perience with compulsory attendance
laws. He also says that not a single
superintendent in any State, where
| lhcle is compulsory attendance law,
soys that such a compulsory law can
be enforced without truant officers.
The answers varied greatly as to
questions No. Z in regard to increase
in attendance. A great many of tie
Sol thern States show no increase or
vary slight increase. He finds from
die replies that it is noticeable that
lhe Southern States which have no
compulsory law, are increasing In at
tp,laaiice much more rapidlY than any
states allywlleie in the co,ili-