18 
BULLETIN 1285, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
school in their native lands from five to nine years, and some re- 
ceived their education in American schools. It was often plain from 
their statements that in some countries the terms of public schools 
were very short and the courses of study limited or that pupils had 
been able to attend only for short periods in the winter and often 
at considerable expense and distance from home. Educational prog- 
ress under such circumstances was usually slow compared with that 
expected in American schools. 
The age of leaving school indicates to some extent the education 
received. Eeports of 416 farm employees showed that over half left 
school at from 11 to 16 years of age. averaging 15 years. In other 
words, the average pupil could not have had over a year of high- 
school work. If the educational progress of those who had left school 
was to be judged by that of those still in school (Table 6). the aver- 
age farm worker had left school before completing more than seven 
grades of grammar school. This supports the finding that over half 
of those who attended school left before they could reach high school. 
The Xew Jersey State laws require regular school attendance of 
children between the ages of 7 and 16: but pupils 11 years of age 
who have completed the fifth grade may obtain work certificates from 
the local school authorities and be allowed to leave school to go to 
work, except that attendance of one day a week is required at a con- 
tinuation school. 
Table 6. — Education received ~by farm employees under 16 years of age 1 
Grades or years of school work completed 
Age 
Orammar-school grades 
High-school years 
Total 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
1 
2 
3 
cases 
8 vears 
1 

1 
1 
1 
2 
| 
1 
9 vears, 

3 
-- 
1 
1 
1 
2 
o 
3 
4 
3 
3 
1 
... -..!-- _ -. 
3 
10 vears .. 
1 
6 
4 
4 
3 
1 
! 
8 
1 1 vears . _ 
2 
3 
3 
3 
13 
12 vears . 
4 
10 
1 
9 
22 
13 vears - .. 
2 
i 
32 
14 vears 
1 
8 10 
5 ; 2 
3 1 
1 1 
35 
15 years 
3 | 2 | 26 
Total 
1 6 
8 
18 
22 | 22 34 | IS 5 
4 2 2 140 
1 Bold-faced figures indicate normal grade for age. 
2 Eleven of these children 14 and 15 years of age had left school; all except 1 had completed Ihe fifth grade 
and all except 2 had gone further in school. 
The actual amount of education which 110 minors of school age 
had received up to the time of interview is shown in Table 6. It is 
here assumed that Xew Jersey children enter school at 6 years of 
age, as most of them seem to do, and complete one grade of school 
work each succeeding year. Of 110 cases only 58 were making- 
normal progress or better for their ages. The remaining 58.6 per cent 
were all backward. The percentage of those backward increased in 
general with the ages of the children. (See fig. 6.) Thirty- 
seven per cent were from 2 to 6 years behind their normal grades. 
averaging 2.9 years. How much of this backwardness is due to • 
practices or necessities of farm work it is impossible to state. It 
should be noted that six-sevenths of these children had homes in 
