TABLE 42.--Sixteen former slave States and the District of Columbia-Illiterate white population 10 years of age and over, classified by sex and age periods: 1900.

TABLE 43.—Sixteen former slave States and the District of Columbia—Illiterate negro population 10 years of age and over, classified by sex and age periods: 1909.

CHAPTER LIII.

CURRENT TOPICS.

Contents.-Compulsory attendance and child-labor laws.-Consolidation of schools and transportation of pupils.-Teachers' pensions.-Foreign students in German universities.-Higher commercial education.-Salaries of officers and supervisors of instruction in certain cities.-Teachers' salaries in cities.-Regulations relating to corporal punishment in cities of over 100,000 inhabitants.Temperance education in the United States.-Benefactions to education.-Coeducation of the sexes.-Free text-books.-Education in Cuba and Mexico.-Statisties of education, libraries, books, and periodicals in Japan.-The General Education Board.-Education as a factor in success.-The celebration of Founder's Day at Tulane University.-Religious exercises in the public schools.-Statistics of elementary education in foreign countries.

COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AND CHILD-LABOR LAWS.

The following table has been brought, so far as practicable, down to the date of this report, and in the case of many of the States the legislation of 1903 has been given.

Since the last annual publication of this table Iowa has been added to the list of States having compulsory-attendance laws. The term of required attendance has been extended so as to embrace the full school year in Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wisconsin, while in Colorado a like extension has been made to apply to all the schools of the State (instead of being limited to certain districts). In Vermont the compulsory period has been extended from twenty to twentyeight weeks, in West Virginia from fifteen to twenty weeks, and in Wa. hington from twelve weeks to four months (six months in graded school districts). The age limits between which attendance is required have been extended one year in Connecticut, Kansas, Nebraska, and Vermont, and two years in Colorado. In New Mexico the age limits have been changed from 8-16 to 7-14, a reduction of one year. It will be noticed that the trend of legislation is strongly in the direction of requiring the children who are subject to a compulsory law to attend the full term that the schools are in session. This is now the practice in 17 States.,

Many additions and changes have been made in the child-labor laws, particularly in the direction of exacting a certain term of school attendance, or requiring a knowledge of reading and writing, as a condition of children engaging in employment, and prohibiting altogether the labor of the younger children. A number of the Southern States passed new laws in 1903 restricting and regulating the employment of children; among these are North and South Carolina, Alabama, and Texas, and probably Arkansas and Virginia. Illinois strengthened its child-labor law, while an attempt to accomplish the same object in Pennsylvania resulted in a complete defeat, the proposed law not even having been reported back by the committee to which it had been referred. A law governing child labor failed of passage in Georgia.

No attempt has been made in the table to note the States regulating the hours of labor of minors where such labor is permitted. Such regulations are now very general. Many States forbid, or permit only under restrictions, occupations dangerous to the life, limb, morals, or health of children. In some States the employment of children in begging, theatrical and circus exhibitions, on dangerous machinery, in occupations requiring the handling of intoxicating liquors, night work, etc., is specifically forbidden.

Statutory provisions relating to compulsory attendance and child labor.

First, $5 to $20; subsequent, $10 14 years, in any workshop, factory,

to $50.

a See remarks introductory to the table.

Not exceeding $20.

Fine of $5 to $50, or imprisonment
2 to 90 days, or both.

First, $25; subsequent, $25 to $50..

b Children 14 to 16 whose labor is necessary to their own or parents' support are excused.

e Not applicable to children over 14 lawfully employed to labor at home or elsewhere. d Inclusive.

or mine, without written con-
sent of parent and county judge,
under penalty of $25 to $250.
12 years (boys), 14 (girls), in any
factory, warehouse, or work-
shop.

Children under 14 must not be
employed in foregoing employ-
ments, or in clothing, dress-
making, or millinery establish-
ments, nor by itinerant musi-
cians, unless they have attended
school 4 months in preceding

year.

12 years, in any manufacturing or Children under 15 shall not be em-
mercantile establishment.

14 years, in mills and factories (ex-
cept canning establishments),
unless self, widowed mother, or
invalid father solely dependent
upon such employment.
counties exempt from law.
14 years, in factories, workshops,
or mercantile establishments;
14, in any other employment for
wages during school hours; 18
years, handling intoxicating
liquors (except in drug stores).
14 years, in manufacturing estab-
lishments, hotels, or stores. (Law
does not apply to canning or
evaporating works.)

14 years, in factories, workshops, or
mines; 14 years, in mercantile
establishments, telegraph, tele-
phone, or public messengers com-
panies, except during vacation
of public schools; 16 years, in any
occupation dangerous to life,
limb, health, or morals.

e8 weeks for children over 14 who can read and write English and are at work to support themselves or others.

ex

ployed in any manufacturing or
mercantile establishment,
cept during vacation, unless they
have attended school 16 weeks
during preceding year.

No minor, 12 to 16, unable to read
and write English may be em-
ployed where there is an evening
school unless attending that or
another school.

Children under 14 (see preceding
column); over 14, who can not read
and write English, shall not be
employed where there is an even-
ing school unless they attend the
same, or at a day school.
Children under 16, unable to read
and write, may not be employed
in manufacturing establishments.
Children under school
age (16

years) may not be employed in
any occupation unless they have
attended school the prescribed
period; under 16, unable to read
and write English, may not be
employed in any indoor occupa-
tion (except in vacation) unless
attending day or evening school.

The provisions tabulated for Maryland (except in fifth column) are those of the act of 1902, whose operation is limited to Baltimore City and Allegany County. g To 16 unless regularly employed to labor at home or elsewhere.

h To 16 if wandering about public places without lawful occupation.

i In cities 7 to 15, and to 16 if wandering about public places without lawful occupation.

Statutory provisions relating to compulsory attendance and child labor-Continued.