Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-02-16
COMPULSORY Education.
Senator FosrrR, Chairman of the Edit

cational Committee, reported the follow
ing bill to the Senate, last week, c'!'ed
the Compulsory Educational Bill:
SECTION Livery parent, guardian. on
o,her person ia the State of Maine, hivlng
control OF any child or children between
tho aces o. nine and fifteen years. shal'
be required 10 send such child or children
to "A bubble school for period OF at least
twelve weeks in each year, unless Nnch
child OF children are excused rom fhth
attendance by the school officers "i The
IDwn in which such parent or guardian
resides. upon lis being shown that Tue
mental or bodily condition ol such chiid
or children has been such as TO prevent
attendance n school or application 10
study Tor the period required or thal
such child or children have been taught
AZ a private school or ut home IN such
branches as ale usually taught IN primary
schools; prorided in case a public schoot
shall not be taught Tor three months IN
the year within one and one hall miles,
hy the shortest travelled road. OF Tho resi-
dcuce OF such delinquent, nor within The
school district in which the child resides,
he shall not be liable to the provisions OF
this act.
SECTION ,. In case any parent, guard
ian, OF other person having such control
shall fail to comply with section one oil
this act, he shall be liable to a fine not
exceeding five dollars and costs OF posse
CuliOH lol such offence, TO be recovered
ia any court competent To try the sane,
and the magistrate or court 10 which
said fine shall be paid, shall pay the same
lu the treasurer OF the town in which the
offence WAS committed. and shall bo
hy him aCcO lnted FOR the same rs money
raised for school purposes.
SECTION >. Every boy in this State,
between the ages OF nine and fifteen years
who shall neglect OF refuse to attend
school as required in section one OF this
act, unless excused by the school officers
OF the city, toTn or plantation in which
be resides. on being convicted of such
offence. shall pay a fine not exceeding
i've dollars, 10 The discretion ct The count
OF magistrate before whom the offence
is tried.
SECTION 4. Ii shall be the duty OF the
school committee or town supervisor 10
enforce the provisions oil this act.
That some such measure is needed
will be readily seen when j, Is shown how
small percentage OF our chiidrcn attend
school. The following table may surprIs,
many, but The correctues, OF the iigurc-
IS youchcd tor by the highest authority
Amount yN ..,ndei tor school. 10 'he ,-a'c
Number ot scholars Boo Cue state, :-'ia
A'c.H-r t..UuItu. 1i summer schools. '.'
,.Iut.. lNt.lN
pc, r'u, 'i Attendance.
Amount %, money expended i'r ..lo'l
purpose. ivr cacA iuaa9.t.,ut, - p
So. f.c each -'aHiIr 90 th. slate D.
do, i1f each scholar sttcu ling school. l't
Thus We have 81 per cent or over one
half the scholars in the State recei' .ug
no benefit from the large amount Of
money Raised Tor school purposes, and
,u.y ~ per cent, or les, than Que hall,
attend our public schools. IL has set Ia,
people OF the STATE TO looking alter The
matter. aud lor that reason the bill ha'
received the unanImod' %ole oil Tue Sen
ate and = large majoril5 in the House OF
Representatives. alter sharp ATTACK
against it by the opponents OF the bill.
Every lover OF education can bat rejoice
;hat the measure has been boldly taker
hold OF and successfully carried Though
The law is needed in the large village.
and cities oil the State where vice an,
ignorance prevail among that very elias.
who do not attend our public schools
The terms OF the bill are mild. and In,
age from nine to fifteen. to which The
oil applies. can but render il popular.
New York. Michigan. New Hampshire
California and other States have muci
more stringent compulsory laws taau
this upon their statute books. and crime
has been reduced nearly one half since
their adoption.