The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-26
SCHOOL QUESTION
TO Be VOTED UPON
Compulsory Attendance Law
Submitted to Richmond
Electorate.
TO BE ON NOVEMBER BALLOT
City School Board Takes Adj
vantage of Provision of
State Law.
70 BE ON NOVEMBER BALLOT


attendance for children between the
ages OF eight and twelve years will
be held In Richmond on the day Of
the general election. November 80 The
State law az to school attendance is
local option In It's character. and the
city school board at n meeting last
night decided to submit the question
TO a vote OF the people of Richmond
this fall. The board adopted resolu-
tions authorizing the Superintendent
Of Schools TO certify TO the electoral
board the fact that it had passed such
revolutions by q vote Of seven to one
Compulsory education under the State
law relates to children between the
ages OF eight and twelve years. and
the act which governs II provides cX
emption in certain cases.
Compulsory education has long been
advocated as one of thc most progress
sivo steps open to Richmond for the
advancement Of the city Several
counties In the state and three cities
have already adopted the system. and
the Henrico County School Board has
voted TO submit the question to the
voters of that county in November
TEXT OF RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED BY BOARD
The text Of the resolutions AS
adopted by the Richmond School Board
last night follows;
whereas. under the act approved
March "a. 1908. provision dn certain
cases) for compulsory attendance of
children between the ages of eight and
twelve years. on the public schools of
Virginia is made, and
Whereas. the act provides: when
ever the SCHOOL board of any city.
county OF town shall, BY a recorded
vote, express the desire to submit IN o
n
people Of such city, county or town
or maRisteriai district constituting a
separate school district. at general
election. II shall be the duty of the
division superintendent of such city,
county or town to certify that fact IN
the electoral board of such city, coun >
~ or town. who shall at least thirty
days before the next general election
see 10 IL That the question is printed
upon the official ballot of such election
in type similar TO that used for the
rest OF the ballot. and in the following
.ornl FOR compulsory education"
against compulsory educatiou"'
therefore be II Resolved: That the
Division superintendent or the Schools
OF the city OF Richmond is hereby au-
thorized to certify TO the electoral
board or the city of Richmond this
resolution, along with the record of
ton"
EXEMPTION PROVIDED
FOR CERTAIN CASES
Inc act provides that under certain
conditions. when ii Is necessary for
chilaren be'ween the ages stated to
ala IN the support OF the family. or II,
cases OF delicate children. permission
can be secured from the proper mn.
thorities foi the child 10 be excused
from attending school.
III further provides that no special
SCHOOLS shall be forced on the children
TheN are allowed to attend private
public or denominationaI schools with
OUT question and as they may prefer
thc act SIMPLY compelling the chill
dren between these ages to attend
some school for a minimum time each
year.
Another important section OF :he ac,
mates il plain that tho length OF time
during the year in which the attend
ance is compulsory is not excessive
and that ii shall not seriously inter.
fore with any efforts on the part Of
tne chiid toward aiding in the support
OF tbs family.
That the measure will not work a
hardship on the children of the moor
or Ricnmoi,d in the way Of providing
required text books is insured by the
fact that the School Board is nov sun.
plying all children with the needed
HAS WORRIED WELL.
IN OTHER STATES
In advocating this mcans Of climi-
mating illiteracy from Richmond the
CITY School Board is following the en-
ample OF three Virginia cities and two
counties. which have already voted for
compulsory education. or will s,lhmi,
the question To the voters in November
number OF other States throughout
the country have passed similar laws
ana reports from them are to the cf-
feet that it has proven highly sue
cessfui. Not only is il held that the
youth of the city is given a start to-
ward an education. but ii is shown bv
investigation that the moral upliCt
caused by attendance at school on the
part OF youngsters who would other
wise run free in the streets. has been
very marked. According to the re-.
ports of the committee. it has frcouent
ly happened that such children. brought
10 the schools under protest, have come
to cooperate heartily in the work.
and have remained through their first
session and returned during following
terms. The fact that Industrial courses
are constantly being added to the Cur.
riculum OF schools, aud are opened to
the younger pupils. is believed to he
one of the greatest factors in en-
couragng the children to attend.
MEDICAL DIRECTOHS
NAMED FOR SCHOOLS
The School Board at its meeting last
night appointed Dr. Marshall l.. Boylc.
Jr., and DIR. Giles Il. Cook assistant
medical directors for the city schools
Both are Richmond physicians. DIR.
Boyle having been Il city ambulance
surgeon for the last year
superintendent Chandler made his
annual report TO the board. II show cd
tnc :otal white enrolment to be A.. :
939, the total colored enrolment 7520:
total of 22.ia9 school children i'm the
city. The vacation schools opened last
Monday with an enrolment of G2I. the
superintendent said. The summer nor
mails are also now in session.