Memorial Day

Continuation School Law of Utah By I. B. Ball, of the Stale Division of Vocational Education

The Utah State Legislature, of 1919, enacted the most adduced program for extending public school education that is to be found in any state of the Union. One of these forward l< tking laws provides for a state supervisor of health education to assist cities and districts to set upand to successfully execute modern systems for correcting physical defects among children, for preventing contagion, and for establishing normal health habits in youth; another law empowers boards of education to extend supervision over the summer months as well ;i> over the school season, thereby reinforcing the efforts of parents to guard their children against smoking, late hour carousals, unchaperoned excursions, and other evil habits, during the vacation days which are so full of delight but, alas, of subtle dangers; and finally, a third law requires that all children up to age 18 shall either be at work or at school, and, if at work, shall attend a part-time class, at least 144 hours annually. This program of public school education has received 1

high praise throughout the nation. Dr. James P. Monroe, vice-president of the Federal Board of Vocational Education, visited Utah in November, 1918, when the educational law was being formulated. At a meeting of representative business men and educators he said, "The avocation of being healthy and the vocation of being able to earn the best according to our gifts, is the great education that the nation must have for civic and industrial salvation. The Utah program is wonderful. It is a program which the Federal Board look forward to for the nation, and almost it is the same plan about to be announced by President Wilson. Utah has a better start than most of the states." Prof. J. D. Elliff, Director of Vocational Education in Missouri, wrote to Dr. Gowans enthusiastically, saying, "Your program is the very best thing of the kind that I have seen." The plan for extending public school education in Utah is noteworthy also because it fulfils in almost all details the proposals of a report just issued by the Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education, published by the U. S. Bureau of Education. The Commission "would focus secondary education upon what may be called the social objectives,

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such as health, citizenship, vocation, worthy uee of leisure, and ethical character." The report of this commission was not known here when Utah educators drew up their proposals which have now been placed upon the statute books. And still in a circular letter mailed broadcast from the office of the Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in December, 1918, this statement is made: "In addition to the present requirements for graduation, a high school student should furnish a statement to the principal indicating normal health habits (considering physical facts), average ability in vocational and substantial moral and civic activities." activities, Legislation for vocational education in the public schools of Utah had its beginning, in 1917, when the state accepted the provisions of the federal law for vocational education, namely, the Smith-Hughes act. But the state at that time did not appropriate funds to match the federal funds, except for the purpose of training teachers for the work. The 1919 laws provide $50,000 annually to distribute to cities and districts which meet the state and federal requirements, and it also makes it mandatory that part-time classes shall be established by boards of education unless the local boards are excused by the state board for reasons it deems valid. Utah's compulsory laws have heretofore required school attendance until age 16, unless the child earlier completed the eighth grade. The new enactment leaves this regulation intact, but goes further, and sets, as a minimum, attendance at a continuation part-time class 144 hours a year up to age 18. The exemptions allowed are for graduates of high schools, for those taught at home, for those mentally or physically handicapped, and for children living over 2y2 miles from a part-time school and where transportation is not provided. It is made a misdemeanor for any parent to fail to comply with the act and for employers to refuse to permit any child they employ to attend a part-time school or class 144 hours a year whenever such classes are organized in the district where the child resides or works. Moroever, the employer of any minor under eighteen years of age is required to keep on file the age and schooling certificates issued by the superintendent of schools and to notify the board of education of the district within five days after the beginning of employment and to return the certificate to the superintendent of schools within five days of the termination of service of any minor. The type of education to be offered in these part-time classes is to be determined by the needs of the children and by the facilities of the schools. It is not restricted to vocational training. The law reads, "A part-time school or class estab- lished in accordance with the terms of this act shall provide

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an education to the children who have entered employment which shall be either supplemental to the work in which they are engaged, continue their general education, or promote their "civic and vocational intelligence." These classes "shall be in session not less than four hours a week between the hours of 8 a. m. and 6 p. m." The continuation school is growing in favor slowly, but steadily, in the world. Not more than nine states of the Union have compulsory, part-time laws for children up to age eighteen, and none are more far-reaching than Utah's. Wisconsin enacted a