80 



requires that such instruction be regularly and thoroughly 

 given. 



Our law in regard to non-attendance applies not to manu- 

 facturers only, but to merchants, mechanics, farmers and all 

 employers of children. The manufacturers, as a rule, cheer- 

 fully comply with the law. There is need of watchfulness in 

 reference to the larger number who each employ one or more 

 children in shops, or stores, on the farm or in the family. All 

 persons who know of any instance of the employment of chil- 

 dren under fourteen years of age, who have not attended school 

 the time required by law, are requested to send information of 

 such fact to the office of the State Board of Education, giving 

 the names and location of the employers of the children and 

 of the parents. A journey to the remotest part of the State will 

 be amply compensated, if, thereby, a single child can be brought 

 to school. 



The needs of neglected children still occupy much time in 

 public addresses and personal labors. The good results 

 already accomplished furnish ample encouragement for the vig- 

 orous prosecution of this work. During the last year the agent 

 of the Board has visited a larger number of families than in 

 any former year. As the result of these visits to the homes 

 of neglected children, nearly three hundred such children have 

 been led to attend school. Nearly ninety -five per cent, of our 

 children are now reported as in schools of all kinds — a larger 

 percentage than in any other State in America, when the basis 

 of enumeration is taken into account. In Connecticut, the 

 enumeration includes all children between four and sixteen 

 years of age. The gift from the State Treasury and School 

 Fund of about two dollars and a half per scholar, ensures the 

 fullest returns. In Massachusetts the enumeration is from five 

 to fifteen. We discourage attendance under five, and the law 

 authorizes towns to exclude all under five. There is, therefore, 

 reason for congratulation on the efficient working of our com- 

 pulsory law. 



