Show BACK BACI TO ro SCHOOL I Increase in child la labor or since the beginning of of tile the great world war as ns reported from twenty cities clUes visited by agents of the Childrens Childrens' Bureau Dureau U. U S S. S Department of L Labor bor is somewhat somewhat some some- what alarming In a a. large industrial industrial Indus indus- Industrial trial city In lu Missouri there has been an increase of per pcr- per cent in the number of employment certificates issued to girls in 1916 17 over the tho number issued In to 1915 In In one city in New Jersey Jersy y though the population has Increased the e daily school attendance has decreased d over 4 portent In a city J I f 1 in Pennsylvania the attendance at continuation schools decreased 30 per perc percent cent c nt though attendance was compulsory compulsory compulsory sory for children between 14 and 16 years of ot age The same condition seems t td tb exist the whole country The decrease In school attendance at nt continuation schools decreased 30 per cent though attendance was compulsory for children between 14 and 16 years of age The same condition seems to exist exist exist ex ex- throughout the whole country The decrease in school l attendance in all aU these instances is due to the f fact fac t that children are put lo to work either in the fields or shops or In tho the homes to relieve the older members of the family from domestic duties These figures figures represent mainly the elementary elementary elementary elemen elemen- tary school children and re reveal eal a n strong to exploit their labors This year another and even more serious condition has obtained Influenza In In- has shattered all aU plans s stopped many many many of ot the tho schools and minimized the enrollment In the others Parents have rig rightfully l hes hes- Hated or refused to send the children to school until now It seems too late to accomplish ac anything In the short time that Is left This is no doubt true in the schools now closed for tor it would take tale time to get the teachers on the ground and it always requires some somo time to get started but In the schools already in op operation there Is no Just reason why the enrollment should not now be nearing the tIle nor nor- mal There is little or no flu and the health of ot the people generally Is reported excellent True the cannot pass aUthe all aU the subjects In the curriculum but the ones they do pass will put them that far far ahead ar- ar ahead of what they will be if they do not attend at all Surely a a half loaf loa Is better than no loaf at all The Tho weather Is good and roads In fair condition why then should we we keep them out In communities where school Is not running parents can do very much toward educating the tho children n. n Encourage Encourage Encourage En En- courage and require dally daily reading discuss local and national topics with them Even the following ollo of the results results results re re- re- re of the tho Great Peace Movement presents a most excellent opportunity ty for study and to date mat material rial is 13 always in tho the homes Tho The problems problems problems lems here bore discussed either either- directly or indirectly Involve all other important important im Im- national or international ques questions lons J. J A. A WASHBURN r 4 |