Milford chronicle., 1908-08-28
COmpuli 'c'4ssl law.

"ul past scho Was the first I'M
uel 'he comp school law. 1t is
nOt geneIaiiY X that the State Of
Deia"a'e "a one most liberal States
IN thfs Uhson, in support Of its pub
ilc staeols. In rural districts scarcely
One Ealf Of the expense of maintaining
The school is borne by the local taxation.
Yet in spite Of this liberality, our Legis-
lature found from statistics submitted at
the last session that Delaware ranked
number 81 in the matter of illiteracy
among the States Of the Union. People
are taxed to keep schools open whether
they have children or not, and the Legis-
lature felt that parents should be placed
under a ligal obligation to send their
children, at least under fourteen years of
age TO school a portion al the year and
not be permitted to squander williuly
the money provided so literally to assist
in the task of making their children in
telligent and patriotic citizens.
So ascertain the efficacy of the law,
Superintendent John D. Brooks of Sus-
sex County submitted three questions to
the teachers Of the county at the close of
the school term. The first asked concern
ing the increase of attendance. The sec
ond asked about the difficulty of enforce
ing it. The third asked, what changes or
amendments in the law would be sug-
gested. The answer to the second ques-
ton showed almost uniformity, that they
had little or no difficulty in enforcing
the law thus showing that the law was
reasonable and backed by public senti-
ment The answers to the third question
about the changes or amendments to law,
mainly suggested lengthening the COM
pulsory school period, and raising the
age from fourteen to sixteen years. In
answering the first question about the in
crease OF attendance some interesting
statictics were submitted, The reports
froEa rural districts from all sections of
she county showed an increase Of atten-
dance under the law Of IS per cent or to
be more exact 81 and seven. tenths per
cent. As these figures include the chill
GTen Of the school whether under the
compulsory law OF not, the increase Of
attendance of those between seven and
fourteen must have been enormous. The
average increase Of attendance in tn
town schools WGs not so large, as the at
tendance in towns has usually been quite
regular even without the law. Yet these
schools that reported averaged fifteen per
cent. Under q better understanding and
a more Acknowledgement Of the law, this
year it is anticipated that figures will be
largely increased. A proper enforcement
of the law will almost abolish illiteracy
in the coming generation, and the sad
spectacle Of free citizen of Delaware,
reared in the midst Of free public schools:
yet unable to write his own name will be
a memory
An unpleasant part Of the superinten-
dents duty is to send out sharp notices
~ tiqs- ca II = 10 are uGAEllNA III EEuQluE
to school. 1t is a curious fact |
that many OF these notices mailed to the
post ofice ST the parent were returned |
marked ul4nown and then had to be
ent to the teacher of the district to be
delivered. This fact shows that illiterate
'arents Of5he discreet who receive abso-
ltely no mail are rearing their children
Ike unto themselves, 10y neglecting to
end them -tc school.
One father with a large family of chill
rem declared that be did not wish his
hildren 70 learn TO write for fear they
ould be guilty of forgery in after lite.
0 a single country school five large boys
I'd girls were ia the primer class who
ad never been 10 school a day before.
t the close OF school they were able to
rite their names, and the bible and a j
ewspaper were no longer sealed against
EN-. No law in recent wears has been y
ore justified by les results than this one.
Districts which sish to avoid express
aFges on books ought to send their or
n at once to the State Treasurer.
JOHN D. Books.