New Britain herald., 1914-04-03
CHILDREN ARE BEING FORCED INTO SCHOOL
There Are Six States Without
 Compulsory Attendance Laws.

Although six states in the union are
 still without compulsory school atten-
 dance laws, and four others have
 laws that apply only partially, def1-
 mite progress during the past decade is reported in a bulletin just issued by the United States bureau of educa- tion Since 1905 eight states pre- viously without compulsory laws have adopted them, and it is thought to. be matter of only a few years when compulsory school attendance will be 2 in effect in every state and territory of the United States.
 The six states still without compul- sory. school laws are: South Caro- lirfa, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mis- sisa1ppi and Texas. The four local option states, where the law is in eff fectst in certain counties only, are Maryland, Virginia, Arkansas and Louisiana.
 The bureaus investigation of the sub3ects reveals a, close connection be- tween lack of compulsory attendance laws and illiteracy The states rank in percentage of i1literacy very much in accordance with the length of time compulsory schooling has been in effect and the completeness with which it is enforced.
 .a States Vary.
 The states vary widely in number of yearA and amount of attendance required each year. The period of compulsory attendance is from eight to twelve in North Carolina and Vir- ginia In. most states it is eight to fourteen or fifteen. The present ten- dency Is to raise the upper limit pf connpulsion. In seventeen states the compulsory age limit is sixteen years or above: In Idaho it is eighteen. As a general rule, however, children in all these states are allowed to leave school at fourteen years of age if they secure employment or have com- pleted the eighth grade in school. There Is constantly increasing effort to safeguard the child between four teen and sixteen years of age, the period of special importance for the vocational preparation of most chil- dren.
 Many Exemptions.
 As little As twelve weeks of school attendance during any. one year may be required in Virginia, Oklahoma, Delaware and Nebraska, while in Yer mont and other states there must be 150 or more days of actual school at tendance every year. Many states re- quire attendance during the full 1 time school is in session." which may mean anything from forty-one to 1s4 days. Some states secure attendance during long terms by conditioning state appropriations upon the num- Der of day$ of actual school atten. dance.
 A variety, of exemptions are found in the laws of the different states. Connecticut and Arkansas will not | enforce the compulsory attendance l law If the parent is not able to pro- | vide proper clothing for the child. l Physical or mental incapacity is a ! general exemption; another, custom ary exemption is remoteness from l school facilities. Occasionally exemp- | tions are made on religious grounds. l Thus the Michigan law exempts chil- | dren from compulsory attendance between the ages of twelve and four- teen while in attendance at confirma- ton c1assek for period not to exceed l five nonth$ in each of the two years.
 Necessary factors in the enforce ment of compulsory attendance laws | are summed up as follows: An annual school census taken by the school au- thorities; prompt reports of unex- cused absences by teachers in public and tefschools; properly qualified officers: state agents to |