Evening star., 1921-05-10

which, it is hoped, will meet with the
approval or the council. DR.. Simon
concluded by thanking the council for
helping to crystalline the sentiment
of the public in favor Of compulsory
education. child labor regulation and
the child census.
Phases Discussed by Dr. BaIlou.
DR.; Ballou followed DR.. Simon by
detailing briefly some features which
he thought should be. taken into ac-
count In considering the three phases
of this legislation.
He advocated separation of compul-
sorry attendance from child labor
legislation, feeling, he said, that too
much was being attempted. The i'm
plication that work is distasteful OBJ
tanned by joining child labor regula-
tion with compulsory school attend
ance measures, was Objectionable, he
told the council.
Turning to the proposed census. the
school, superintendent declared it
'unthinkable that school officials
enter school the ensuing year" as is
the case in Washington. He therefore
pointed out that he favored extension
of the age limits for a child census
down to two or three years up to Is
years. instead of from six years up,
| as had been suggested. This extension
would entail little added expense. he
said. and would enable school officials
| to calculate approximately the num-
| Der of children about to enter school
at a given time. The census. DR.. Bal
| lou urged, should undoubtedly be
made by school authorities. as they
are qualified and in possession of
necessary informal ton in this connec-
ton.
Attendance Law UnsatisfactOry.
DR.. Ballou pointed out that the pres
ent school attendance law was un-
satisfactory for a number Of reasons.
Under this law a child may stay away
one day. stay away for three again
| and so on indefinitely. yet not violat-
ing the law. The new law should elm
mate this defect by providing for
regular attendance. he added.
Another undesirable feature OF the
school authorities to check up on
children coming from other states
to the District and staying away from
! school. Children who have once at
tended SCHOOL here may be followed
up easily. but. there is no way OF
| finding these truants from other
cities unless the superintendent of
schools of other cities see At to in
form local authorities of removal OF
families with children to Washing
ton. Instances of children remain
ing away from school for two and
three years after coming mere nave
been discovered casually. he declared.
The proposed attendance law should
| designate the age to stay in school
and the ago to continue to stay in
school. DR.. Ballou advised. The ref
erence often made to this country
as nation Of six-graders'' means
that the government does not gener-
ally compel school attendance beyond
the sixth grade, he said. Such lax
| laws will not relieve the illiteracy
of the nation. it was declared. DR..
Blllou advocated an educational
minimum and establishment of con-
tinuation schools at a designated date
as provisions of the proposed bill.
Favored by Senate Committee. d..
1t is entirely possible now to Sc
cure legislation covering school at
| tendance and child labor regulation,
as the Senate committee appears to
be favorably disposed. DR.. Ballou en-
phasized. He concluded by urging
that careful study be given before
recommending that children under
fourteen years Of age may go to work
in eases Of necessity" This should
be avoided wherever possible. the
council was told.
DR.. Simon interposed when Dr. Bal
lou spoke Of the school census to call
attention to a school census. recently
undertaken by the Petworth commu-
nifty, with eminent success.
A vote OF thanks to DR.. Simon and
and DR.. Ballou for their explanation