that I have not asked a single person to mention my name, nor did I expect it. I thank you for the compliment, and my energy will be directed toward assisting the officers whom you shall choose to supplement my work. T. J. Reavey of Tuscola county was elected vice president, Miss Flora Beadle of Barry county, secretary, and the following were named by the chair as members of the committee to revise ninth and tenth grade work: A. N. Demoray, J. L. Wagner, H. R. Pattengill, Melinda L. Mills, J. A. O'Leary. The same question that was discussed in some of the other sections, namely, whether the expenses of sections should be borne by the general Association or by the individual sections, was considered, and Commr. Palmerlee selected to wait upon the Executive Committee as a representative of this section. Adjournment. FRIDAY, 7.30 P. M. The largest audience of the week awaited the beginning of the evening program, the first number of which was a vocal solo rendered by Miss Anna MacNeil with such skill as to elicit an encore, to which she responded with "Little Doris." Prayer by Rev. H. S. Jordan was followed by a duet from Messrs. Esselstyn and Daniels, "Flow gently Deva." This, too, was loudly applauded and "The Pilot Brave" given as an encore, after which Pres. Thompson announced the subject of the evening. THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE TRUANCY LAW. HON. H. R. PATTENGILL, LANSING. The most essential factor in the growth of free government by the people has been the education of the masses. The one great reason why the experiment of self-government in America proved more successful than in other countries, was because our people recognized the necessity. of a generous and liberal education, and provided means early in our history to bring about this condition of affairs. It is too late in the history of this country to spend time in arguing upon the necessity of education; it has come to be a recognized truth, and we will consume no time in disoussing that proposition. It has always seemed strange, however, that people so willing to tax themselves to support good schools should allow those who need this education most to refrain from coming under the influences of our schools. In what other way can America assimilate the vast number of foreigners who yearly come to our shores? It would seem that every parent would desire to have his child educated; it would also seem that every child coming to the years of responsibility in this country would desire to have an education. But it is too true that there are many parents too ignorant or too indifferent on this subject, and who permit their children to grow up without even the rudi ments of an English education. Attempts have been made in very many states to inaugurate and enforce a compulsory school law; but until the past year such laws, so far as we have been able to learn, have been very nearly inoperative. The last legislature in Michigan enacted a compulsory school law that will compulse. Pennsylvania is the only other State in our union, according to our knowledge, that has one at all. When entering upon the duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, your present superintendent planned throughout this State twenty-one educational councils, to which he called all school officers, superintendents, and patrons who were most interested in the affairs of our public schools. At each of these places long discussions were held upon the topic of com. pulsory school law. The suggestions which were made from all classes in various parts of the State were carefully noted down, and the result was that a new compulsory school bill was brought before the last legislature. The prominent characteristic of this bill was that it provided for imprisonment of the parent who wilfully neglects to comply with the provisions of the law. The old law was weak in that it merely provided for a fine, and in cases where no fine could be collected, of course the law had no terrors. By insertion of the words "or imprisonment, "new life was put into the measure. The provision for cities is much better than that for the country; this because we found it impossible to pass the bill with a provision equally good for country and city. The question before us tonight is more especially concerning the operation of this law, and its enforcement throughout the State during the short space of time which has elapsed since the bill went into effect. In order to ascertain more generally the correct condition of affairs, the Department of Publio Instruction sent out the following circular to superintendents of city schools and county commissioners of country schools: [Circular No. 42.] STATE OF MICHIGAN. LION. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. DEAR SIR: For the purpose of obtaining information concerning the workings of our new law for compulsory attendance at school, I desire definite answers to the following questions. The Superintendent of Public Instruction has been asked to prepare a paper on this subject for a meeting of the State Teachers' Association, and therefore your answers must be prompt to be of use. 1. What is the general sentiment among school officers and patrons in your locality relative to the necessity and efficiency of the law? Ans. 2. Have truant officers been appointed? If so, give names and addresses of those for the schools under your supervision. Ans. 3. Have there been many instances of a refusal to obey the law? Ans. 4. Are your teachers aiding the school authorities in their attempt to enforce the law? Ans. 5. About how many, if any, pupils have been caused to attend school on account of the enforcement of this law? Ans. 6. How many parents or guardians in your locality have been arrested and prosecuted for a failure to comply with the law? Ans. The following are replies to question 9 of the circular: COMMR. G. A. WOOLSEY, SAGINAW CO. Parents in many localities are now sending as the direct result of the law. Some Germans are sending, although they would rather send to the parochial schools. SUPT. T. A. CONLON, EATON RAPIDS. The law is a good one, and just what was needed to compel the attendance of certain classes, and its results will be shown in later history. Give us more such laws. SUPT. M. L. PALMER, JACKSON. We agitated the matter thoroughly for six weeks before sending out the truant officer. As a result, when it became generally known that the officer was out, many came in without sending them notice. SUPT. W. S. PERRY, ANN ARBOR. We had to stop enforcing the law because of lack of school accommodations. We did not anticipate such an attendance, but shall build before another year. COMMR. W. H. MAYBEE, JACKSON. It is thought to be a very necessary law, yet its efficiency is somewhat doubted. SUPT. ALBERT JENNINGS, MANISTEE. We believe the law is in some parts of it loosely drawn and vaguely expressed. Perhaps it would not endure the strain of an appeal to the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, the effect of the law is good. In its provisions and penalties it is a clear expression of an educational theory now firmly established among the American people. SUPT. C. o. HOYT, LANSING. Without exception every one commends the law. * * * Merchants who have heretofore used boys to distribute bills have complained to me that it is impossible to find one now. The labor unions are loud in its praise, because boys are taken out of shops and placed in school. COMMR. O. G. TUTTLE, GRATIOT. The general sentiment is that the law fills a long felt want, and is just what has been needed for several years. Its efficiency is conceded by all. COMMR. MELINDA L. MILLS, MIDLAND CO. All recognize the necessity of the law; but so many have asked me what steps to take when the children are needed at home-really needed to keep the wolf from the door, and then where children are not sufficiently clothed, to keep them comfortable at home, even. COMMR. H. C. FOXWORTHY, WEXFORD CO. It would seem to me that in each district the director should be the truant officer, as sometimes the truant officer lives so far away from the offender that he is let off too long. SUPT. E. P. FROST, NORWAY. The first case of truancy was very promptly attended to, which, I think, prevented repetition. COMMR. H. B. FULLER, MONTMORENCY CO. The township district officers enforce the law best and easiest. They seem to be a more imposing body of men, and people are more willing to obey their orders. COMMR. CORA M. GOODENOW, OTTAWA CO. Wright township is the only one that appears to be indifferent. Otherwise not a single complaint has been made against the law's being unjust. A goodly number of my directors issued circulars to their patrons, and these circulars brought in the children without any further effort. I am quite proud of my county in this work. COMMR. A. G. RANDALL, CALHOUN CO. Teachers and commissioner should be urged to assist in the rigid enforcement of the law. The law should be changed as applied to country schools. SUPT. O. L. MILLER, CHARLOTTE. Why not make the law compulsory for five days in the week and for the full school year. SUPT. S. B. LAIRD, DOWAGIAC. If the time for beginning was stated, it would be easier to carry it out. Much good will doubtless be accomplished in its present form, but more would be realized if a definite time for starting it was given. SUPT. J. A. STEWART, BAY CITY. The present law is the only effective compulsory school law ever passed in Michigan. All others have been dead letters, due to the fact that the parents could not be punished if they neglected to comply with its provision. Any one who will visit the schools and see the large girls and boys brought in by the law who are down in the very lowest grades, will be strongly impressed with the feeling that it is high time for such a law. There is a feeling among some that the children in the country should be treated the same as those in the city,—at least so far as the age limit is concerned. SUPT. L. H. WOOD, MIDLAND. It seems to me that the great need at present is for teachers to become personally responsible for those pupils who have been entered under the truant law. These pupils are usually found behind their respective grades and will need special attention; and if teachers will interest themselves in behalf of these needy ones, visit their homes, try to make the school room inviting to these strangers, they can do a great deal toward helping out the truant officer, and very likely arrest the growth of many truants in the direction of crime. I believe it is this smaller number of our pupils who need our constant and most painstaking attention. In some cases the interest of the teacher should take a practical turn, by way of securing comfortable clothing for the children. SUPT. GEO. A PARKER, MARINE CITY. Many persons who do not understand and appreciate the object of the truant law, feel that they are being made the victims of some oppression, and that their rights and independence in home government are being curtailed in some way. In such cases their antipathy and resentment are reproduced in the schools, making some trouble for teachers, but falling heavily upon the heads of superintendent and school officers who are held responsible for the enactment of the truant law. Of course that feeling is in the minds of those who are not considered the leaders of intellectual culture and educational development. Some report attendance at the parochial schools, and I do not know how well they are doing, but the officer says they are all in. We have boys in school now who range from 8 to 14 years who cannot read in the first reader and in the chart classes. They have grown up on the streets, supposedly attending parochial schools, but in reality getting only the schooling of the worst elements of the streets and wharves. Such pupils are offensive in manners and appearance-fit subjects for missionary efforts. The following are replies to question 9 of the circular: COMMR. G. A. WOOLSEY, SAGINAW CO. Parents in many localities are now sending as the direct result of the law. Some Germans are sending, although they would rather send to the parochial schools. SUPT. T. A. CONLON, EATON RAPIDS. The law is a good one, and just what was needed to compel the attendance of certain classes, and its results will be shown in later history. Give us more such laws. SUPT. M. L. PALMER, JACKSON. We agitated the matter thoroughly for six weeks before sending out the truant officer. As a result, when it became generally known that the officer was out, many came in without sending them notice. SUPT. W. S. PERRY, ANN ARBOR. We had to stop enforcing the law because of lack of school accommodations. We did not anticipate such an attendance, but shall build before another year. COMMR. W. H. MAYBEE, JACKSON. It is thought to be a very necessary law, yet its efficiency is somewhat doubted. SUPT. ALBERT JENNINGS, MANISTEE. We believe the law is in some parts of it loosely drawn and vaguely expressed. Perhaps it would not endure the strain of an appeal to the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, the effect of the law is good. In its provisions and penalties it is a clear expression of an educational theory now firmly established among the American people. SUPT. C. O. HOYT, LANSING. * Without exception every one commends the law. * * Merchants who have heretofore used boys to distribute bills have complained to me that it is impossible to find one now. The labor unions are loud in its praise, because boys are taken out of shops and placed in school. COMMR. O. G. TUTTLE, GRATIOT. The general sentiment is that the law fills a long felt want, and is just what has been needed for several years. Its efficiency is conceded by all. COMMR. MELINDA L. MILLS, MIDLAND CO. All recognize the necessity of the law; but so many have asked me what steps to take when the children are needed at home-really needed to keep the wolf from the door, and then where children are not sufficiently clothed, to keep them comfortable at home, even. COMMR. H. C. FOXWORTHY, WEXFORD Co. It would seem to me that in each district the director should be the truant officer, as sometimes the truant officer lives so far away from the offender that he is let off too long. SUPT. E. P. FROST, NORWAY. The first case of truancy was very promptly attended to, which, I think, prevented repetition. COMMк. H. B. FULLER, MONTMORENCY CO. The township district officers enforce the law best and easiest. They seem to be a more imposing body of men, and people are more willing to obey their orders. |