Evening journal., 1911-02-25

SCHOOL LAW
Professor Spaid Treats Of
Subject in Replrt to State
School Board
THINKS LAW SHOULD
BE IMPROVED UPVN

A. r. Spaid, superintendent Of
county schools, submitted the tolloW-
ing paper on THE Compulsory School
Law" at the recent meeting Oh the
State Board of Education:
THE Compulsory School Law"
passed in 1907, in spite of its imper-
fections has been OF great value II
has increased the number Of pupils
attending school and the number OF
days per pupil. However, the law
should be strengthened At present
the maximum compulsory period is
five months, but the local commits
sioners may reduce it to three
months, / suggest that the minimum
period be five months which may be
increased by the local commissioners.
In New York State the compulsory
period is from October to June pro-
vided a school is in session that long.
In Pennsylvania 70 per cent. OF the
school term Is the minimum COM
pulsory period.
Il also suggest that the age limit
be changed from to IA years Of age
to to 10 years of age with a proviso
that all pupils over IA who may be
regularly employed may be ercused on
a properly executed certificate. The
twC-mile limit should be abolished in
order to bring all truants and IN
corrigibles under the compulsory law.
THE school census should include
all school children in the district
between the ages of and Is years Of
age. This would give an accurate
basis for all reports on school mat
ters. At present the county super
intendent does not know how many
children there are in the county of
school age, as the school census does
not include children of years of age
apd over Il, children living beyond the
two-mile limit, children going to pri-
vate schools, feeble minded children
and perhaps others. When the State
needs complete statistics, as il some
times does, nothing trustworthy is
available.
The most serious trouble, however
in enforcing the compulsory law is
I to know what to do with the truant
or incorrigible. OF course II is moi
difficult 10 have him committed TO this
Ferris Industrial School, but il is q
serious matter. Under the rules OF
the trustees of that institution he
must remain under their supervision
until he reaches his majority, al.
though the law says for a definite
time. Under a committee appointed
by the State Board of Education ]
took the matter up with the Board OF
Trustees Of the Ferris School 10 see
If these unruly boys could not br
committed for a definite time, say one
or two years, and after they hac
learned what IL was to live under
strict discipline for some weeks e
parol them, on condition that they
went back to school and obeyed all
rules. The Board finally decided that
under present conditions such a plar
would not do. In the first place
there is no segregation of the BOYS
committed TO the Ferris School. The
older boys must associate more OF
less with younger boys and what Is
still more unfortunate, boy com.
mitted, say for truancy, would have
to associate perhaps with a boy will
a criminal record am full,
convinced that boys should no
be, except in rare cases, where Their,
seems to. be nothing else to do, sen
to a reform school. I trust that tn
bill to establish a juvenile court II
this State will speedily become a Law
We're II not for the many duties q
the county superintendent, he woul