Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-04-05
Compulsory Education

Although six states in the Union are still without
compulsory school attendance laws, and four others
have laws that apply only partially, definite progress
during the past decade is reported in u bulletin just
issued by the United States Bureau of Education.
Since 1908 eight states previously without compulsory
laws have adopted them, and it is thought to be n
matter OF only a few years when compulsory school
attendance will be in effect in every state and terri.
tory of the United States. ..
: T. The six, states still without compulsory school
4 laws1are: South Carolina Geofeia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi and Texas. The four local option states,
where the law is in effect in certain counties only.
are: Maryland, Virginia, Arkansas and Louisiana.
The bureaus Investigation of the subject reveals
a close connection between lack Of compulsory at
tendance laws and initeracy. The states rank in
percentage of illi1eracy very much in accordance with
the length of time compulsory schooling has been in
effect and the completeness with which it is enforced.
The states vary widely in number Of years and
amount Of attendance required zach year. The period
Of compulsory attendance is from 8 to 70 in North
Carolina and Virginia. In most states it is 8 to IA
or Is. The present tendency is to raise the upper
limit Of compulsion. In II states the compulsory age
limit is Is years or above; in Idaho it is Is. As a
general rule, however, children in all these states are
allowed to leave school at IA years of age if they
secure employment or have completed the Eighth
grade in school. There is a. constantly increasing
effort to safeguard the child between IA and 1G years
Of age, the period OF special Importance for the voca-
tiOnal preparation of most children.
AS little as II weeks of school attendance during
any one year may be required in Virginia, Oklahoma,
Delaware and Nebraska, while in Vermont and other
states there must be $780,, or more, days OF actual
school attendance every year. Many states require
attendance during the full time school is in session."
which may mean anything from Al to 194 days. Some
states secure attendance during long terms by con
ditioning state appropriations upon the number of
days Of actual school attendance.
A variety of exemptions are found in the laws OF
tho different states Connecticut and Arkansas will
moi enforce the compulsory attendance law iii the
parent is not able to provide proper clothing" for :Me
child. Physical! Or mental incapacity is a general ex-
%e,nption: another customary exemption is remoteness
froa Sthaol facilities. Occasionally exemptions are
made ca religious grounds. Thus. the Michigan law
exemp.s children from compulsory attendance be-
tween the ages OF i2Ssand II While in attendance at
confirmation classes, for Il period not to exceed S
months in each Of the two years z
Necessary factors in the enforcement of tcompul-
sorry attendance laws are summed up as follows: An
annual school census taken by the school authorities:
prompt reports of uneXcused absences by teachers in
public and private schools; properly qualified attend
ance officers; state agents to see that the laws are
enforced; special schools for tr,lants and pupils irreg-
lular in attendance; relief for INDECENT parents having
children of compulsory age; a definite annual period
of attendance; we'll enforced child labor laws: en-
ployment certificate made out to the employer; and
proper penalties for all concerned in tho enforcement
Of the law. .ts f@ a
Missouri spent "a, 75S ;3l5 on highways last year In
one way and another, surprising as the figures may
be to travellers.