children out of school in america - University of Tennessee Digital ...
children out of school in america - University of Tennessee Digital ... children out of school in america - University of Tennessee Digital ...
did not have books were not much of a problem. "We can get the books for them by going to the principal." But he had not had a single referral in two years. 1t 1 These claims about making books available were contradicted, in part, by key school officials. The Superintendent of Schools and the Assistant Superintendent said that "[I]f a high school child cannot afford books, the school will pay if the child is in a Title I program.""2 And the claims about the availability of free textbooks were completely contradicted by the poor families whose children in Floyd County had dropped out for lack of money to buy books. It is clear that whether such a policy exists and whatever the policy is that makes free texts possible through specific request, it is ad hoc and not made public in the parts of the community that need it. It is equally clear that many poor families in Floyd County feel they must keep their children out of school because they cannot afford the costs of textbooks for their high school age children or other workbooks and supplemental material for all children. Even if there is a policy of responding to individual hardship cases and even if it worked well for all who needed it, it still leaves the burden and stigma on poor families to have to ask for help. 111 Interview with Charles Patton, School Social Worker, Floyd County Board of Education, Floyd County, Kentucky, 1/24/74. 112 Interview with Charles Clark, Superintendent of Schools, and Ray Brackett, Assistant Superintendent, Floyd County, Kentucky, 8/29/73. All of the schools in Floyd County qualify as Title I schools, although only a little over 2,000 students are Title I "eligible" in that they are more than one grade level behind and are also enrolled in a remedial reading program. Floyd County's Fall 1973 Report to the Office of Civil Rights showed 2,565 students in remedial reading programs, and 375 of these were in the District's five high schools. Mr. Wallace, the District's Title I Coordinator, did not talk about making textbooks available with Title I funds, but did say that other supplementary services, such as hearing aids and eye glasses could only go to students enrolled in Title I remedial reading programs. (Interview with Harry Wallace, Title I Director, Floyd County, Kentucky, 1/24/74.) We do know that other districts, like Sumter County No.2, South Carolina, have used Title I funds for waivers of school fees. During the 1973-74 school year, $15,200,000 of the district's Title I grant was set aside for that purpose, and during the 1972-73 school year book fees specifically were mentioned in the Title I application. (Title I Proiect Applications, May 1972 and May 1973.) 82 They and their children cannot but dislike having to do so. We think the Kentucky law as presently drawn and administered discriminates illegally against poor children and has the effect of excluding them from school. We hope that state and local officials will take prompt action to eliminate this barrier. l13 While we did not find children out of school explicitly because of the lack of provision of free textbooks in other states, we think this does contribute to children dropping out elsewhere. Children and their families call it "financial difficulties." State officials should reexamine their provisions for textbooks and reconsider the probable effects on poor school children of non-free textbooks. It is not adequate to say individual hardship cases will be taken care of when brought to the attention of school officials. The humiliation for the child and family will often prohibit them from seeking help. And they are not always aware that they might be able to get individual help. Among the states included in this study, only four (Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, and Mississippi) have unambiguous statutory mandates for the provi- 113 A CDF staff member spoke with Representative Brooks Hinkel, Chairman of the Education Committee in the Kentucky Legislature, on March 19, 1974, about the history of legislation in the state regarding free textbooks. House Bill 55, to provide free textbooks in grades 1-12, was introduced during the 1974 session of the legislature but was never reported out of the Education Committee because of "lack of funds." They did not think the state had the funds to support such a law. A bill similar to HB 55 is proposed every session, Representative Hinkel explained, but he said he did not think that any of them had ever gotten to a vote on the floor. 114 Kentucky Rev. Stat. §160.330. 115 Title 52, Alabama Code §433(13). IlG A Davenport, Iowa school official explained that all schools have a book fee which increases according to grade level, but said he "is sure [the feel is waived in many cases." The school system has a fund established to loan money to students who are in need. (Interview with Dr. Daryl Spaans, Director of Secondary Education, Davenport, Iowa, 11/9/73.) However, Larry Jackson, former Assistant Superintendent and D!rector of Educational Programs, Annie Wittenmyer Horne, said that a lot of parents and children are hurt as a result of the required book fees. Parents who do obtain a waiver for their children's books suffer the consequence of having a stigma attached to tbe family name. (Interview with Larry Jackson, former Assistant Superintendent and Director of Educational Programs, Annie Wittenmyer Horne, Davenport, Iowa, 11/8/73.)
sion of free textbooks. In Kentucky, no school district is required to provide free textbooks. ll4 In Alabama, textbooks may be provided free by the city or county, and the state will provide free textbooks "insofar as available appropriations therefore permit."115 Colorado requires only that indigent students be provided textbooks. Indigency is determined by a classroom teacher's written statement as to need. Local school districts may vote to furnish free books to all students, but they are not required to do so. In Iowa, local school districts have the option of providing books free or they may rent or sell them to students. Additionally, a majority of the district's voters may vote for the free loan of textbooks. H6 South Carolina, which in the past has relied on a rental system for books, is in the process of changing to a system whereby textbooks are loaned without charge by the State Schoolbook Commission. The change was first ordered by the state legislature as early as 1952, however, and it has not been completed yet-more than 20 years later! The most recent amendment to the law mandated implementation of the change-over only for children in the first eight grades. The following article in The Advertiser, a Laurens, South Carolina newspaper, on August 5, 1974 illustrates the burden of book rental fees on poor families: Students rent books All students in Ware Shoals School District 51 will register, rent books and pay their fees on Friday, August 23, in order that the first full day of school will begin on Monday, August 26, according to an announcement this morning from the District 5I office. Buses will begin running on Friday, Aug. 23 to transport children to and from school for this purpose. ALL STUDENTS in grades 1-8 will have their books issued between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 11: 30 a.m. All Ware Shoals High School bus students will also rent their books during those hours, and the buses will leave school at 11: 30 a.m. Non bus students at Ware Shoals High School will rent their books the same day, but between the hours of I p.m. and 4 o'clock. IN ORDER to prepare for the opening there will be a principals meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 19, with teachers' workshop being held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, August 20, 21 and 22. All Ware Shoals Junior High School students should report to the gym by 8: 30 a.m. and bring $3.50 for workbooks and materials. AT WARE Shoals Elementary School, Camak, each student must bring $8.80 for books, supplies, test and materials. At Ware Shoals Primary Physics (two books), $5.31; School, Darby: fees for work- Chemistry II, $2.90; Biology II, books and materials will be $2.20; Chemistry I (two books), announced by the individual $5.14; Biology I, $2.20; Physiteachers in the Primary School cal Science, $1.84; Gen. Science, on Aug. 23. $1.79; and Gen. Science lA, SO THAT students and par- $1.79. ents may determine the cost of U. S. HISTORY, $2.23; U. S. books and supplies, a book ren- History IlIA $1.90; Psychologytal price list and fees are as fol- Sociology, (two books), $4.36; lows: Civics (two books) $4.66; Civics Student Council Fee (All high lA, (two books), $3 World school students) 60 cents; Eng- History, $2.02, World History lish IV (three books) $4.39; I1A, $2.88; French II (three Advanced Compo (three books), books), $6.04; French I, (two $3.90; English IVA (three books), $4.08; Spanish I (two books) $4.21; English III (three books) $2.87; Spanish III, books), $4.39; English IlIA $2.63; three books) $3.89; English II, Basic Home Be. (Home Ec I), three books), $4.21; English $2.49; Adv. Home Be. (Home IA (three pooks) $4.74; English Ec II), $2.87; Family Life and I (three books), $4.16; and Home Furnishings (two books), EngHsh IA (two items), $3.40. $5.19; Typing I (two books), ADVANCED Algebra & Trig $3.34; Typing II (two books), (one book), $2.75; Gen. Math $3.33; Shorthand I, (two books), III (No text) (furnished mate- $2.74; Shorthand II(two books), rials) $4.00; Algebra II, $2.53; $2.96; Business Law, (two Geometry $2.29; Gen. Math II, books), $3.38; Bookkeeping I $1.69; General Math IIA (no Materials, $6.59; Drivers Edutext), $3; Algebra I, $2.36; Gen. cation, $1.67; and Health, Math I, $1.69; and Gen. Math $2.43. lA, (no text), $3. 83
- Page 49: Theresa, 12 Theresa Engler, a 12-ye
- Page 52 and 53: 34 Table I Children Not Enrolled! B
- Page 54 and 55: Proportion of Minority Children 2 T
- Page 56: Social and Economic Factors Poor ch
- Page 59: Limitations of Census Data Our anal
- Page 62 and 63: We found children out of school in
- Page 64: .". 0\ Table VIII Chlldren Out of S
- Page 68 and 69: VI o Table X All Children Out uf Sc
- Page 70 and 71: Total % of Areas Surveyed Children
- Page 73 and 74: Chapter 3 Barriers to School Attend
- Page 75 and 76: TABLE I STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONA
- Page 78 and 79: ter the four months because the cou
- Page 80: Truancy Laws penalizing children an
- Page 83 and 84: A Denver school official stated: "Y
- Page 86 and 87: officers who spoke Spanish, and onl
- Page 88 and 89: The principal of Lincoln Junior Hig
- Page 91 and 92: For example, as of October, 1972, i
- Page 93: think there is enough counseling, e
- Page 97: fees required to take, for example,
- Page 102 and 103: Consider what this would mean if yo
- Page 104: no money to feed and care for all o
- Page 107: Apparently a judgment has been made
- Page 112 and 113: ecome self-sufficient adults are th
- Page 114 and 115: In Cambridee, Massachusetts, an att
- Page 116 and 117: Inadequacy of Special Education Pro
- Page 118 and 119: over again for four or five years.
- Page 120: Janice has not been suspended this
- Page 123 and 124: ased. 56 They are modeled and norme
- Page 125: chusetts counselor pointed out that
- Page 128 and 129: that the city does not experiment w
- Page 130 and 131: 1. The use of many kinds of people
- Page 132 and 133: abuse laws of the state. However, t
- Page 134 and 135: 116
- Page 137: Many districts still have the power
- Page 140 and 141: In contrast to the majority of publ
- Page 144 and 145: The same pattern of secondary suspe
- Page 148: Racial Discrimination in the Use of
sion <strong>of</strong> free textbooks. In Kentucky, no <strong>school</strong> district<br />
is required to provide free textbooks. ll4<br />
In Alabama, textbooks may be provided free by<br />
the city or county, and the state will provide free<br />
textbooks "<strong>in</strong>s<strong>of</strong>ar as available appropriations therefore<br />
permit."115<br />
Colorado requires only that <strong>in</strong>digent students be<br />
provided textbooks. Indigency is determ<strong>in</strong>ed by a<br />
classroom teacher's written statement as to need.<br />
Local <strong>school</strong> districts may vote to furnish free books<br />
to all students, but they are not required to do so.<br />
In Iowa, local <strong>school</strong> districts have the option <strong>of</strong><br />
provid<strong>in</strong>g books free or they may rent or sell them<br />
to students. Additionally, a majority <strong>of</strong> the district's<br />
voters may vote for the free loan <strong>of</strong> textbooks. H6<br />
S<strong>out</strong>h Carol<strong>in</strong>a, which <strong>in</strong> the past has relied on a<br />
rental system for books, is <strong>in</strong> the process <strong>of</strong> chang<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to a system whereby textbooks are loaned with<strong>out</strong><br />
charge by the State Schoolbook Commission. The<br />
change was first ordered by the state legislature as<br />
early as 1952, however, and it has not been completed<br />
yet-more than 20 years later! The most recent<br />
amendment to the law mandated implementation<br />
<strong>of</strong> the change-over only for <strong>children</strong> <strong>in</strong> the first<br />
eight grades.<br />
The follow<strong>in</strong>g article <strong>in</strong> The Advertiser, a Laurens,<br />
S<strong>out</strong>h Carol<strong>in</strong>a newspaper, on August 5, 1974<br />
illustrates the burden <strong>of</strong> book rental fees on poor<br />
families:<br />
Students rent books<br />
All students <strong>in</strong> Ware Shoals School<br />
District 51 will register, rent books and<br />
pay their fees on Friday, August 23, <strong>in</strong><br />
order that the first full day <strong>of</strong> <strong>school</strong> will<br />
beg<strong>in</strong> on Monday, August 26, accord<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to an announcement this morn<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
the District 5I <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
Buses will beg<strong>in</strong> runn<strong>in</strong>g on Friday,<br />
Aug. 23 to transport <strong>children</strong> to and from<br />
<strong>school</strong> for this purpose.<br />
ALL STUDENTS <strong>in</strong> grades 1-8 will<br />
have their books issued between the hours<br />
<strong>of</strong> 8:30 a.m. and 11: 30 a.m. All Ware<br />
Shoals High School bus students will also<br />
rent their books dur<strong>in</strong>g those hours, and<br />
the buses will leave <strong>school</strong> at 11: 30 a.m.<br />
Non bus students at Ware Shoals High<br />
School will rent their books the same day,<br />
but between the hours <strong>of</strong> I p.m. and 4<br />
o'clock.<br />
IN ORDER to prepare for the open<strong>in</strong>g<br />
there will be a pr<strong>in</strong>cipals meet<strong>in</strong>g at 9 a.m.<br />
on Monday, August 19, with teachers'<br />
workshop be<strong>in</strong>g held Tuesday, Wednesday<br />
and Thursday, August 20, 21 and 22.<br />
All Ware Shoals Junior High School<br />
students should report to the gym by 8: 30<br />
a.m. and br<strong>in</strong>g $3.50 for workbooks and<br />
materials.<br />
AT WARE Shoals Elementary School,<br />
Camak, each student must br<strong>in</strong>g $8.80 for<br />
books, supplies, test and materials.<br />
At Ware Shoals Primary Physics (two books), $5.31;<br />
School, Darby: fees for work- Chemistry II, $2.90; Biology II,<br />
books and materials will be $2.20; Chemistry I (two books),<br />
announced by the <strong>in</strong>dividual $5.14; Biology I, $2.20; Physiteachers<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Primary School cal Science, $1.84; Gen. Science,<br />
on Aug. 23. $1.79; and Gen. Science lA,<br />
SO THAT students and par- $1.79.<br />
ents may determ<strong>in</strong>e the cost <strong>of</strong> U. S. HISTORY, $2.23; U. S.<br />
books and supplies, a book ren- History IlIA $1.90; Psychologytal<br />
price list and fees are as fol- Sociology, (two books), $4.36;<br />
lows: Civics (two books) $4.66; Civics<br />
Student Council Fee (All high lA, (two books), $3 World<br />
<strong>school</strong> students) 60 cents; Eng- History, $2.02, World History<br />
lish IV (three books) $4.39; I1A, $2.88; French II (three<br />
Advanced Compo (three books), books), $6.04; French I, (two<br />
$3.90; English IVA (three books), $4.08; Spanish I (two<br />
books) $4.21; English III (three books) $2.87; Spanish III,<br />
books), $4.39; English IlIA $2.63;<br />
three books) $3.89; English II, Basic Home Be. (Home Ec I),<br />
three books), $4.21; English $2.49; Adv. Home Be. (Home<br />
IA (three pooks) $4.74; English Ec II), $2.87; Family Life and<br />
I (three books), $4.16; and Home Furnish<strong>in</strong>gs (two books),<br />
EngHsh IA (two items), $3.40. $5.19; Typ<strong>in</strong>g I (two books),<br />
ADVANCED Algebra & Trig $3.34; Typ<strong>in</strong>g II (two books),<br />
(one book), $2.75; Gen. Math $3.33; Shorthand I, (two books),<br />
III (No text) (furnished mate- $2.74; Shorthand II(two books),<br />
rials) $4.00; Algebra II, $2.53; $2.96; Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Law, (two<br />
Geometry $2.29; Gen. Math II, books), $3.38; Bookkeep<strong>in</strong>g I<br />
$1.69; General Math IIA (no Materials, $6.59; Drivers Edutext),<br />
$3; Algebra I, $2.36; Gen. cation, $1.67; and Health,<br />
Math I, $1.69; and Gen. Math $2.43.<br />
lA, (no text), $3.<br />
83
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