New Britain herald., 1927-07-23
'hDOKEY PLAYING
! CLOSELY STUDIED
Attendance Bureau Takes Friend.
4, y Interest in Abentees

The old-time truancy department,
which consisted of one man. usually
4 constable, a supernumerary po-
iiceman or some gruff individual
capable of striking terror into the
hearts of youths inclined to play
''hookey" from school has passed on
and in its place has been set up the
highly specialized attendance bureau
with its staff of experts and its i'm
posing array OF fling cabinets and
Investigators.
New Britain is one OF the cities in
which this evolution has taken
place. Instead of the searching eyes
OF truant ocer riding up and
down the side streets. the local
school department has staff of
two women who formerly taught in
school and one man who handles
details OF the work.
Miss Anna Goldsmith and Miss
Anne O'Brien, both teachers OF long
experience, are in charge assisted by
Edward Stebbins. Each day the
bureau Is informed OF absentees and
an investigation is begun forthwith.
The home is visited and the con-
ditions surrounding the absence
noted. In some cases 1t is learned
that environment or illness con-
tributed to the absence and the serv-
Ices OF some other department is
brought into play, making the at
tenrance bureau an agency Of
greater value than the name sug-
gests.
In spite OF the fact that some
element Of hockey" playing is al
ways associated with the practice of
attending schools and it is generally
considered that every building has
at least a few inveterate ahsentees
as we'll as a great number who occa-
sionally visit the movies or the
swimmin' hole during school hours,
It is interesting to note that the
total number of absentees last school
year was less than one-half of the
total enrolment. There were $3.50
cases, OF which $500 received per-
sonnl attention and investigation bxy
the bureau.
Home conditions caused 1850
absences A variety of excuses were
entered in the records. Some Of
these are: Illness of another mem
Der OF the family, 27O; away with
parents. "a; on errand for parent,
IS: looking for work, e. weddings or
funerals, rs; holiday. 10: mother
away daughter helping at home,
1873; without suitable clothing 10 at
tend scvhool. 1872: inclement weather
a.: at church, IS; too late for class,
1872.
Personal illness caused 1854 alb
sences and quarantine caused 10.
OF the many cases investigated only
995 were put down as voluntary
truancie. The probation officer was
called in to handle 16 cases and 90
boys and girls were brought before
the Judge OF juvenile court for rep
rimanding.
To cooperate with homes where
the part-time services of children
was found to be a necessity, GER
tificates were granted in "a cases
allowing some time off for home
help. 1t was found that 239 chill
dren were Illegally employed or were
remaining home to work without
permission of the school depart
partment.
The desirability Of attending
classes was Impressed upon 1904
pupils In personal conference at the
office Of the attendance bureau and
where parental negligence was sus-
pected there were 3S2 conferences
with the older members of the
family.
An enormous mass Of detail work
Is handled by the bureau annually
Of which little or nothing is ever
heard. Despite the fact that many
parents, particularly among the
newer corners to the shores of the
United States, insist upon their alb
solute right to direct the conduct OF
their children and their education
1t has been found possible to cut
down absentees with but one court
prosecution this year.