Evening star., 1921-05-10
LAWS ON SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
AND CHILD LABOR DISCUSSED
Separate Bills on Subjects Urged by
Council of Social Agencies-School
Officials Address Gathering.

Separation Of compulsory school at
tendance and child labor legislation
into distinct bills and concentration
for the present on securing adequate
school attendance laws for the Dis
trict of Columbia were urged Nester-
day afternoon by the Washington
Council of Social Agencies at a meet
ing in the Raleigh Hotel. Mrs. Whit
man Cross, president of the coun-
Gil presided.
- This action followed the recommen-
dation of the executive committee at
q meeting May 2, when it was voted
on motion of Executive Committee
man COStigan, seconded by Newbold
Noyes. to recommend that school at
tendance provisions of the proposed
bill as presented at the last meeting OF
the council be Incorporated. in princi-
pie at least, in separate measure
which measure should place in the
proposed bureau of school attendance
and work permits the enforcement OF
the provisions of existing child larbI
laws" and that:
The board of education and the
superintendent of schools be re-
quested to draft school attendance
law embodyinG at least the princi-
pies. as contained III the attendance
section of the combined school at
tendance and child labor law present.
ed to the council at the last meet
ing that completion of the eighth
grade be required for certification fol
general work permit"
In passing the resolution of the
executive committee. Walter S. .Ufford
ly approving the policy Of separating
the two phases of the proposed legis.
lation
DR.. Simon's Address,.
Preceding the action of the council
yesterday, DT. Abram Simon, presi-
dent of the board of educa tion. and
of Schools Ballou told
of their interest in the efforts of the
council to obtain proper school at
tendance. child labor and school cen
sus legislation and promised the
earnest support of school authorities
in this connection. =
board OF education all. were inter
ested. The time ha1 come to build
up separate department of compul-
sorry school attendance, work permits
and census" he declared.
School authorities are supporting
the child labor bill because they want
the children to attend school. Con-
SCHOolS VIII De the mex
step. 1 would like to see the board
of education indorse the compulsory
education bill. The board meets
Wednesday of next week. See that
every member has copy Of the bill
for I hope that they will act at that
time and approve the measure" he
added. =
Discusses Present Methods.
Touching on present methods o.
compelling the attendance OF childrer
in the local schools, DR.. Simon point
ed out that the truant officers are not
holding the proper respect of familie:
in the home. because they have beer
in the habit of emphasizing that they
are officers rather than teachers
These officials should really be called
home VISITORS he said, citing tina,
they are not officers, but teachers. o.
sympathetic tendencies. and should
command the respect of the home
There should be at least thirteen Of
these officers in the local schools, one
for each division: twenty would serve
more efficiently. he said.
If bureau supervising compulsory
education. child labor permits ant
school census work is created. 4,
should have high type Of person fol
its head. DR.. Simon believes. with 9
certain other school departments.
Calling attention to the proposed
census Of school children. the edu.
cation board head said that Mr.. VI.
ford, representing the council of So
cial agencies. will confer with schoo
authorities shortly with a view tc
drawing up separate census bill