The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-06-29
Compulsory Esaeation in Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. June 20.
Among the mass of miscellaneous bills
which the House and Senate passed on the
eve of their adjournment was one introduced
last January by Senator Walker, making
the education of children between six
and fourteen years of age compulsory,
and vesting in the Boards of E ucation of
the cities and incorporated towns the power
to enforce the attendance of such. children
at either the public or private schools. The
text of the bill is as follows: 4
SECTION 1. Be it enacted ETC.: That every
person having the control and charge of any
child or children between the ages of eight
and fourteen years shall send such child or
children to public or private school for a
period of not less than twelve weeks in each
school year, unless such child or children are
excused from attending school by the Board
of Education or School Directors of the city,
town, or school district in which such child or
children reside. Such excuse may be given
by said Board of Education or School Direct
ors for any good cause shown why said child
or children shall not be required to attend
school in conformity with this act. fFf,f r.f
SEC. 2. 1t shall be q good defense to any suit
brought under this act if the person under
whose control such child or children are can
show that the mental or bodily condition of
such child or children is such as to prevent
their attendance at school or application to
study for the period required by this act, or
that such child or children have been taught
in private school or at home, for the time
specified in this act, in such branches as are
ordinarily taught in primary or other schools.
or have acquired the branches of learning
ordinarily taught in public schools or that no
public school has been taught within two miles
by the nearest travelled road of the residence
of such child or children within the school
district in which said child or children reside
for twelve weeks during the year..
SEC. s. Ii any person having the control
and chargeOf any child or children shall fail
or neglect to comply with the provisions Of
this act, said person shall pay fine of not less
than five dollars nor more than twenty dol
lars. Suit for the recovery of the fine and
costs shallbe brought by any Director or mem
Der of any Board of Education of the district
In which such person resided at the time of
the commfttal of the offense, before any just
ice of the Peace of said Township. Jurisdic-
ton is hereby conferred on all Justices of the
Peace in this State for the enforcing of this
act. Such fine shall be paid, when collected,
to the School Treasurer of said Township, to
be accounted for by him as other school
money raised for school purposes.
SEC. A. 1t is hereby made the duty of School
Directors and members of the Boards of Edu-
cation to prosecute offenses occurring under
this act The neglect so to prosecute by any
School Director or member of any Board of
Education within twenty days after written
notice has been served on such Director or
member of such Board of Education by any
taxpayer residing in such district that any
person has violated this act, shall subject him
or them to fine of ten dollars, to be sued for
by any taxpayer residing in the School Dis
trict where the violation of this act occurred,
before any Justice of the Peace in the town
ship where the said School District may be To-
Gated: and when such fine is collected it shall
be reported by said Treasurer and accounted
for as other money raised for school purposes,
and become part of the school fund of said
township. E-r