Evening journal., 1920-05-01

teacher reported Them absent IN be-
ccmbfr, bul as there were sS9 cases
OF unlawful absences at Thai time
they were mailcd.a notice 90 attend
school No mention was made OF
them until February. when ! received
a letter from The teacher saying tha,
the "B' children had not returned TO
school. and she hsd heard they were
IN need. visited Immediately. and
found wrctchcd state OF affairs.
lht family were on in one little room
-lhc kiichcn-.O were lle three
dogs, one eat, and four or n,e chick
ems. A wood fire In the cook stove
made Tue tiny place unhearlhly hot.
/ There was no place Tor me 90 sit
down. 30 ! stood and me chicken.
walked ONer my feet. sick father
was lying on an improNiscd couch
lhe mother sat idly in the one low
chair In The ccnier Of ihc room
/ Three children Of school axe SAT or
} sloOd silently about. while Two
younger children threw corn az the
I chickens.
Il give you these details 10 show
! you how uneducated people may live
/ IL was my business % cct the two
cider boys back no school. The
9-Nesr-old girl has never attended.
went 10 The Chlldrcn's Bureau at once
/ and They gave me some stockings and
an order Tor two pairs of shoes.
had an interview with the doctor
who had never visited them. but WHO
supplied them with medicine. w
knew nothing about Them except thai
they paid for their medicine. Next
Interviewed Tho landlord and be- was
interested and intelligent he realized
that The parents were mentally in.
capable, were ignorant Of "a better
way Of living Though they mic
uhoir rent promptly. The propcrt,
they occupied was deprcciailne
next sought Red Cross workei
and she supplied the much needle,
clothing The two boys returned q
school The landlords wife took AT
interest In The family. and I'm nov
ready TO 60 afiog The 7-ycar-old girl
This child has since entered school.
"A School Attendance Onlcer. how
ever. cannot simply wave a magi
wand and say 10 Indifferent parents
Send your children 90 school and 3
comes 10 pass. The chronic 'sich
cases are hardest 10 manage.
The compulsory school attcndanc
law. II firmly. but humancly enforced
Will do more 10 place Delaware In ih
front rank educaiionally and indus
irially. than anything yet tried
"The following ngurcs may Civ
4 f0ma idea 0f The amount Of work Z
, be done by ono person working alon
and drying 90 do Justice 20 So school
and about 1000 children
, Total number N school DAY
from August % 10 Auril i3l. if9: 0l
Z fee work from August - 90 OclOb
! p when FIRST ear camcl. 30. regula
, Office days from October D TO Apr
I II. PC. extra Office days for spccll
/ work or bad weather. 30 -. iOli
/ oilic, days. 62 Ia days absent h.
r cause OF Illness and accident 10. al
tended national conference at phili
( delphia. ?: teachers Institutes 3.
D Number OF cases of unlawful Al
sence reported from September
D until April a. 1868: number OF urgef
). cases reported 2Js. numbar OF childre
- returned 10 school. i65. letters wri
s ten IN reference 10 eases 1888. nun
; Der OF personal visits made. ii3. nun
p Der of visits TO schools 100
- "Oihcr work. Investigated case
asking for work permits and issue
p the same. Made monthly reports O
, | enrolment and percentage OF aiicn,
e ance. sent circular letters 10 ioaci
b. ers. trying Go improve our aNcnl
:. arcc. TWO sundays wer' given iu t
I work and a number Of evening
o Clothing was collect 4 and given
S needy families at two schools.
u "Many cases reported d.d not n
: quire inVestigaiiOn. FOR example. his
y school children and children und
Is seven years.