Smyrna times., 1918-10-30
CHILDREN MISS SCHOOL.
Lack of Attendance Officers in Della
ware Raped by Inspector Be-
fore Labor Commission.

AOAC LdUOT commission.
Proof that scores of children. both
boys and girls, under the age of four
teen years are idling away valuable
time outside the schoolroom contrary
to State law, through the absence here
of attendance officers to keep tabs on
the delinquents, a denial that Della
ware is unduly ahead of other States
in the employment of child labor. and
a report that fifty-seven violations
were found in four months against
the ten-hOur law governing the en-
ployment of women and children.
were features of two reports laid be-
fore the Labor Commission of Della
ware at a meeting held Thursday
afternoon in the office of Charles War
ner in the Odd Fellows Building, VIII
mingtOn. Charles A. Hagner, State
child labor inspector, who called at
tention to the large number of child
rem of school age roaming the streets
also reported that general certificates
for employment to the number of
1861 were granted during the past
five months to children of Wilmington,
and 106 to children from rural New
Castle, Kent and Sussex counties.
This is an increase of 116 over April
of this year. While Mr.. Hagner
praised the spirit of cooperation
shown by industrial concerns, parents.
and the children as well, came in for
criticism. The desire to rid them
selves of what they deem a burden
their employment ertifcate-leads
them to claim children are more than
10 years of age, the age when they
no longer need a certificate of en-
ployment. Miss M. Edna Palmer, in
spector of the 1O-hOur and sanitary
law for women employees, declared
that virtually all the violations of
these statues she had found were con-
fined to restaurants, hotels and con-
fectionery stores run by foreigners.
She said that the educational crusade
which the labor commissioner has in
augurated to teach what the law re-
quires is cheerfully being followed by
these foreigners. Regarding the lack
of attendance officers the report says: {:
"The Delaware Child Labor law pro-
vides that children must be ID years
of age and must have completed a
a course of study equivalent to five
yearly grades in our public schools in
spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic,
geography, history of the United
States, and in the English language
before a general employment certif-
cate can be obtained. In looking back
over the nine months of my work as
State Child Labor Inspector, the
thought often comes to me, "has Will
mingtOn done its full duty in looking
after the education of its shildren
While on inspection trips about the
city, am confronted in nearly every
section with children of school age
and during school hours. Questioning
brings the information, that 81 didn't
go to school because l had to go to the
store;' Il had to stay home to mind my
little brother (who in this instance
was half block away playing with
another child, 4 was late for school,
etc. The children who apply at the
office of the Labor Commission of Del
aware for employment certificates
having reached IA years of age anC
who must be refused because they
have not completed five years grade
at school, undoubtedly, in the majority
of instances are like those quoted
above. at is this class apparent!
more than any other, that have t.
enter the labor world because of fnan
cial conditions.