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Letter to Editor
September 19, 1884
Daily Republican
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
A taxpayer complains about unequal enforcement of attendance rules in school No. 4, where young children are strictly punished for minor lateness while older boys skip days without losing seats, blocking access for other children of taxed parents.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
As a tax-payer permit through your valuable paper to ask one or two questions of the Board of Education or Professor Harlan. Why is there so much distinction made between certain scholars going to the same school? I speak more particularly of No. 4. For instance, if scholars, say from eight to ten years of age, are one minute late they are sent back home for an excuse, and are not permitted to take their seats until that excuse is produced; and if they are absent two-half days without a sufficient excuse, their seats are taken from them, and they are turned out of school.
Now on the other hand, boys, say from fourteen to sixteen years of age, can play truant, or bag it as they call it, two or three days in the week, and still retain their seats. I say two or three days in the week - I mean just what I say. I know it to be so, and I know there are parents who are taxed to support the schools, whose children are running the streets because there are no vacant seats. Why not let some of those children have those seats that are vacant about one half the time? Perhaps they would be more punctual.
A TAX PAYER.
Now on the other hand, boys, say from fourteen to sixteen years of age, can play truant, or bag it as they call it, two or three days in the week, and still retain their seats. I say two or three days in the week - I mean just what I say. I know it to be so, and I know there are parents who are taxed to support the schools, whose children are running the streets because there are no vacant seats. Why not let some of those children have those seats that are vacant about one half the time? Perhaps they would be more punctual.
A TAX PAYER.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Social Critique
What themes does it cover?
Education
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
School Discipline
Education Inequality
Truancy
Taxpayer Concerns
School Seats
What entities or persons were involved?
A Tax Payer
Board Of Education Or Professor Harlan
Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Tax Payer
Recipient
Board Of Education Or Professor Harlan
Main Argument
the letter questions why younger scholars (8-10 years) in school no. 4 face strict rules for lateness or absence, losing seats, while older boys (14-16 years) can skip school multiple days a week and retain seats, preventing other taxed parents' children from attending.
Notable Details
Distinction In Rules For Scholars Aged 8 10 Vs. 14 16
Boys Play Truant Two Or Three Days A Week
Parents Taxed To Support Schools But Children Run Streets Due To No Seats