Victoria became one of the first places globally to offer free, secular, and compulsory education via the Education Act 1872. Children aged 6 to 15 were required to attend school for at least 60 days per half-year.
The definition of reasonable excuse included that the child was under efficient instruction in some other manner; that the child had been educated to the required standard; that the child was prevented from attending school by illness, fear of infection, temporary or permanent infirmity or unavoidable cause or that there was no State school within two miles of the child’s residence. “Reasonable excuses” for missing school included being needed for seasonal farm labor.
Parents who failed to send their children to school faced fines or imprisonment. By the 1880s and 1890s, dedicated state officers were employed to hunt down truant youths and enforce attendance.
Avoca Mail, Friday 5 July 1878, page 2
The following circular has been issued by the Education department to truant inspectors : — " Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that in the performance of your duties as truant officer, you should pay especial attention to the detection of any children in your district who may not be in attendance at any school. With this object in view, whenever you find children playing in the streets during the school hours, you will endeavour, by inquiries of the children themselves, of the neighbours, and (if possible) of the police, to ascertain the names and residences of such children ; and the information thus obtained you will follow up until you shall have satisfied yourself as to the extent of their truancy. As often as you have occasion to visit a school, you will request the head teacher to furnish you with particulars of any children who are supposed not to be attending any school ; and similar information should also [be] sought, whenever opportunity offers, from members of boards of advice, and from the police. You will, after instituting the necessary investigation with all such cases, made a special return of those in which persistent truancy is considered to be established, with a view to authority being given for their prosecution."
Avoca Mail, Tuesday 15 March 1881, page 2
AVOCA POLICE COURT.
Monday, March 14th, 1881. (Before C. W. Carr, Esq., P.M., and Wm. Goodshaw, Esq., J.P.)
The undermentioned persons were summoned for a breach of the Education Act in not sending their children to school the required 30 days during the quarter ended the 31st December, 1880 : — John Leyden, Number Two Creek, fined 5s ; Robt. Cockburn, Avoca Lead, fined 5s ; James French, Lamplough, fined 2s 6d ; Patrick Conroy, Upper Homebush, two cases, fined 2s 6d in each case; Frederick Taylor, Upper Homebush, fined 5s ; Meredith Kerr, Upper Homebush, fined 5s ; William Hamilton, Upper Homebush, fined 1s ; Joseph Saunders, Rathscar West, fined 2s 6d ; Chas. Brown, Rathscar West, fined 1s ; Henry Leerson, Number Two Creek, three cases, fined 1s in each case.
- John Stephen Leyden (abt.1824-1889)
- Robert Cockburn
- James Henry French (1849-1915)
- Patrick Conroy (1828-1903)
- Frederick Taylor
- Meredith Kerr (abt.1828-1908)
- William Hamilton
- Joseph Saunders
- Charles Brown
- Henry Leerson, probably George Heinrich Leersen (1829-1894)
Avoca Mail, Tuesday 29 July 1890, page 2
AVOCA COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS.
MONDAY, JULY 28TH, 1890.
(Before Messrs Snell, Wise, and Goodshaw, J's.P.)
TRUANCY.
J. T. Seymour, Truant Inspector, v. Jas. Spencer. Neglecting to send his child to school the requisite number of days, Fined 5s.
Same v. Thomrs Boyd. Similar offence. Two charges. Fined 5s in each.
Same v. Henry Humphreys. Similar offence. Fined 5s.
Same v. Thomas Impey. Similar offence. Fined 5s.
Same v. Mary Ah Pew. Similar offence. Fined 7s 6d.
Same. William Buck.Similar offence. Fined 5s.
Samev Edward Randall. Similar offence. Two charges. Fined 5s in each case.
Samev. Thomas Rowland. Similar offence. Fined 10s.
Same v. James Garner, Similar offence. Fined 10s.
Same. Frederick Whitely. Similar offence. Fined 10s.
Truant officer: James Tudor Seymour (1840-1909)
Parents:
- James Spencer
- Thomas Boyd, possibly Thomas Henry Boyd (1849-1895)]
- Henry Humphreys
- Thomas Impey (1836-1922)
- Mary Ah Pew
- William Buck
- Edward Randall (1849-1926)
- Thomas Rowland (1847-1914)
- James Garner (1838-1910)
- Frederick Whiteley, Frederick Herbert Whiteley (1847-1920)
Image generated by AI
Further reading
Dee, P. (2022, June 11). Sufficiently educated. State Library Victoria – Blogs: Social, Life & Customs, Such Was Life. https://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/such-was-life/sufficiently-educated/
