The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-08-20
CHILD LABOR
4
AND Truancy Considered
Recent Con.
1 ference
AT MIDDLE BASS ISLAND


and OF the country so that the educa'
tion of the child and not It's labor,
should be made the chief end of such
statutes, an informal conference was
recently held at Middle Bass Island.
Lake Erie.
The resolution under which the con.
ference was held had been adopted
by the Ohio School Improvement Fed.
Grafton, the Ohio Teachers associa-
tlon and the National Educational as
soclation and representatives of these
and also of other organizations took
part in the meeting. The members
OF the conference were G. J. Bell, a
former governor of Vermont, now
member Of the executive committee OF
the National Grange, e. B. Norris OF
New York, chairman Of the executive
committee OF the National Grange,
George p. Hampton OF New York city.
F. A. Derthick, master OF the Ohio
State Grange. Mrs. Mary Il. Lee,
Grange correspondent, agricultural pa
pers, Mrs. Sarah q. Hyre, member of
the board OF education OF Cleveland,
George e. Pomeroy. president Of the
Ohio state Board OF Commerce G.
d. Firestone, Of the Carriage Builders
National association. Allen Ripley
Foote, president OF the National Tax
association, Mrs. Mary G. Snyder, Sec
retary of the National Tax association
and Walter d. Mckinney, commission
err of the Columbus Industrial ALI
ance Of Columbus, Ohio.
%. G. Cooley, superintendent OF the
public schools Of Chicago. and w. II.
Elson, superintendent OF the public
schools OF Cleveland. who had been
appointed delegates to the confer
ence by the National Educational as
ISOLATION we're unable 10 attend be-
cause OF their absence In California.
James w. Van Cleave, president OF
the National Manufacturers assoeia-
tlon also was unable to attend the
conference but sent q letter saying
that there is no doubt OF the fact
that industrial education for the Am
erican boy is one OF the greatest II
not the greatest problem, that con-
fronts the republic at this time"
II was the decision Of the conference
that a permanent cooperation commit
tee should be formed composed OF
three delegates each from the Nation
al Grange, the National Manufacturers
association, the National Educational
association, the National Tax associa-
tion and the Carriage Builders Nation
al association for the purpose or sup
plying a medium through which these
ORGANIZATIONS can cooperate to secure
practical results In line with their de
sires to make the education OF children
of a character that will At them for
the vocations they are most likely TO
desire to follow and for their proht'
able employment.
| For this purpose the committee rec
commended that the common school
system should be improved to provide
as far as possible. for the teaching
] in all elementary school OF the me-
chanical. agricultural and domestic
arts and sciences. with the direct pur'
! pose of fitting children as fully as pos
sible for profitable employment In the
yocations they are most likely tc
follow.
II is thought TO be necessary tc
provide mechanical agricultural and
domestic science training, as well a.
mental training for all children, and
thus give them the opportunity tc
show their natural preferences and &c
demonstrate by their interest In study
and work what special branches OF In
dustry will most surely be suitable 4
their natural bent.
To this end as far as possible 1t VII
be urged that efforts should be made
to combine the employment OF child
rem, during out-of-school hours. vaca
ton time and the habit-forming perioC
OF their lives with the school system
In a way to make employment a
we'll as study part OF the educationa
system, and also by placing all child
rem, when employed as we'll as whel
in school. under the supervision OF
school district officer.
II also was the opinion Of the con
ference that the taxation systems o
the states be revised with the purpos,
Of furnishing ample support and facil
tiles OF every necessary kind for max
ing effective the purposes In view ant
especially with the view OF so proyid
irg for schools In poor districts tina
j they will be as we'll equipped and a
effective as the schools In district
having greater wealth.
1be members of the conference will
submit these propositions to the or
ganizations which they represents
at the next annual meetings with
view towards securing action whic
will lead to-the official organization
of the permanent cooperative cor
, ference committee. the aim of whic
|. will be to secure the legislative az
tion necessary to carry the propose
reforms into practical effect. Othe
I organizations having aims similar :
those of the bodies which participate
in the first conference will be invite
to appoint representatives to the PEI
, manent committee.
The conference decided upon form
ing preliminary committee ON OF
ganization Of Ave members wh<eh wi
have full charge of the work to be VI
dertaken until such time as the pei
mahent committee is organized. Th
preliminary committee Is composed {
Allen Ripley Foote, President of tn
National Tax Association, Chairman
| Las. a. he. Hxa