St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1916-03-11
COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTEND
ANCE.

(By Francis Shuttleworth, Chairman
Education, La Federated Clubs.)
As q result of the 1915 legisla-
ton, South Carolina aud Texas are
enrolled on the list of states that
have compulsory school attendance
laws. While the South Carolina and
Texas laws are not as comprahen-
sive and strict as those Of some OF
the other states that have had COM
pulsory laws for many years. they
are a distinct recognition Of the
compulsory principle and represent
big step forward in the two states.
The Texas law requires all child
rem between the ages OFFS and IA
to attend school-60 days the first
year, 80 days the second year, 100
days thereafter in every school year.
It provides for atten dance officers.
fixes penalties for violations, and
provides for the esta bl:shment os
parental or tEuant schools where nc
essary. The law goes into effect
September /, 1916.
The South Carolina law Is option
al, but the state Authorities are
hopeful that large proportion OF
the districts will vote TO have the
law apply to them. State SUPP.
Swearigen is urging tha- every To-
cal tax district circulate its com
pulsory attendance petition at once,
hold its election, and put every clild
in school during 1856, Officers
Of the U. S. Bureau os Education
believe that the action of Texas and
at T.
sorry school attendance laws will have
an effect not only on IL four states
still without such laws, but also on
states where the school attendance
laws operate only in part. Vigorous
campaigns are under way in several
states to make compulsory educa-
tion effective throughout all the ter
ritory of the states AMI for longer
periods of attendance.
In Alabama, where school prob
lens are receiving special attention
this year, the need for compulsory
attendance law as one Of The most
important steps in progress is Keen
ly recognized. Present AMI former
state superintendents of education
have urged the enactment of suit
declares in his annual report: No
one would question for momens
that the state has the right to COM
pei the parent to feed and clothe his
child, and to carry the laW-breaking
child to the reformatory Or the jail
to protect society. Has not tae state
an equal right to require the parent
to send his child to school in order
to save him from that refornlatorv
or that. Jail and to MAKE him a pro-
Queer rather than mere consumer
of the wealth of the state? Ala
bama needs form of compulsory
education which SHOULD be as rigid
and as progressive as. our ability to
cope with the situation will make
possible"
Thos. H. Harris, State Superin-
tendent of Education. supported by
his corps of able teachers through
out the state; and the State Fedora
ton of Women's Gibbs and its ally
the state press-48 papers of which
are carrying the same message every
week and are crying aloud the ne
cessity of giving the privileges of
education to all Of Louisiana's child
rem.
The state legislature of 1915 viii
enact the law of compulsory school
attendance. 1t may be on the grad
ual increase of number of days per
year, teh plan which Texas adopt
ed, but Lou;siana's minimum num-
Der of days per year will equal, If
not surpass the maximum number
of days per year which Texas has
adopted.
Louisiana to the forefront in edu-
cation!
BETTER BABIES.