Evening journal., 1918-09-24
Find Ala TRUANT
KIDDIES IN CITY
Census of Council of De-
fense Shows Many Needs
in Educational Work
NO MONEY, THOUGH.
TO IMPROVE SYSTEM

There were 5s3 children between 6
and i3 years OF age in Wilmington who
did not attend any school, private or
public, last year. Allowing for cases
IN which there was some doubt, there
wero 4it cases Of assured trtsncy,
These figures We're gained in a detailed
census taken by the Women's Commit
Tee Of the State Council Of Defense. dur
ing the year, and presented by them
70 the BOSrd OF Public Education last
night
DR.. Clifford J. Scott superintendent
Of city schools, said the figures wor3
far more serious than any Of the school
authorities had anticipated, and the
bad condition showed the need Of an
attendance officer, for whom the school
board hSd pleaded with City Counsel
for The past three years. City Council
had always refused any money FOR such
an officer. DR.. Scott sad further, that
II the school attendance was 10 be
watched, close cooperation with the
parochiSl schools was needed in this
regard. Many truants claimed attend
ance in one OF the school systems,
when representatives OF the other sys-
tenn questioned them, and thus avoided
school altogether.
DR.. Thomas o. Cooper related that
several years ago the board had paid
out something like 500 to have a schoC.
census taken, but IL had proved so II.
accurate as 10 be worthless; the plan
OF asking teachers 10 get statistics from
pupils had been Of some help; but the
board thanked the Women's Commit
g. Hn 20 frs.f
had ever been taken OF the city schools.
In past years. the police department
had been delegated by the State Leg
islature 10 act as attendance officers,
but the police had never felt 10 was
properly their duty and he agreed with
hem. A policeman was not the best
igent 90 keep the children in school.
DR.. Cooper said the Board Of Public
Education had been allowed $4,000 a
year for new buildings for many years.
This sum had not been sufficient even
20 years ago. and money had 10 be bOr-
.owed. There were not sufficient build
lngs TO take care Of all the children
Who ought TO be in school, and there
vas not any money allowed by CitS
Council for the board TO bui'd tempOr-
iry buildings or TO hire any buildings
'or school purposes.
President George B. Miller endorsed
hese remarks, and asked the Wont us
Committee to submit their report and
suggestions IN writing. that they might
De presented TO City Council.
Mrs. Preston Lea, vice-chairman OF
the Women's Committee said that they
were autherized by the National Wom-
ems Committee Of the State Council
Of Defense, to give some help to the
board upon the statement OF the board
that there was no money available TO
carry out the suggestions Of the state
Council.
Miss Jeanette Eckman, secretary Of
the WOmen's Committee, outlined the
things asked for by the Women's Com
mittee as follows: The Washington au-
thorlties urge medical inspection and
school nursing above all things. The
Women's Committee, she said, coul0
give some help in this regard through
the child welfare centers already estab-
lished in the city. The physicians and
visiting nurses Of these centers can
come in touch with many children OF
school age. An attendance department
is asked by the committee. They also
wish 10 know whether the board can
provide buildings, equipment and leach
ers for all the children who should be
i'm the schools.
In the answers given last night, the
members Of the board told the women
that there was no money TO provide
any Of these things. In a week or two
the Women's Committee will have de-
cided upon the next step in co-operat-
ing with the Board Of Public Educa
lion. The school commissioners eX-
pressed appreciation for this cooper
alton.
follows:
The report does not represent the
parochial schools. attended by approx
jmatelv $500 children, as these schools
are not under the jurisdiction Of the
Board OF Education. The committee d.
vided the city into blocks, as the cen
sus unit. The city was taken IN seven
sections for the purposes Of summary
and results found as follows:
Section 4. Bounded by West Ninth
street. Lancaster avenue. dupont street,
Bayard avenue: 7ii families with chill
dren: 1855 children from TO IS years
OF age, 50 per cent foreign (i3A per
cent Itallan). There were 3ii children
from 5 TO iS years, not in school; 90
children from to i3 years not In
school. There were 100 children work