Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-30
THEY ALL KNOW HIM.
Truant Officer Kimball is Familiar
to the Small Boy.
The Truancy Law and How IL In
working In Rock Island and
Throughout the state-.-The Penal
~ for it's Violation, Etc.

There he is and he's got hold of Jim.
mie. too. by gum. Now he's comm
down this way Jack; let's fiyr
II was this exclamation that attracted
the attention of an ARGUS emiss airy as he
was passing up Second avenue the other
day. the sound emerging from the alley
just west Of the Harper, and UPON close
examination was found TO emanate from
the lungs Of a small boy who was ad
dressing his companion in the manner
and language indicated.
The urchin who had given utierance to
The expression heretofore menti oned was
peeping out of the alley. and close upon
his heels with countenance equally ex-
pressive of eagerness and mischief was
his chum. The object of Their scrutiny
WAS an old man with white beard and
SLOUGH hat. while under his arm he carr
RED an old fashioned umbrella He was
overhauling couple of boys on the Sec
ond avenue side of Union square. FIN
ally he sent them oa their way and start.
ed down the avenue, and it was this
action on his part that served IS a cue to
the two small boys in the alley, who
started of rs hard as their heels would
carry them.
The old gentleman whom they knew
so well was ex-Mayor B. II. Kimball, at
present truant officer for the Rock Island
school district.
''How does the new school law work
in Rock Island'" inquired the scribe adj
dressing Mr.. Kimball.
"oh. admirably, admirably r. indeed"
was Mr.. Kimballs reply.
Are there any particular objection to
any of its features manifested on the part
of parentsf"
Il am pleased to say. that as rule
there are none. But there is degree of
indifference shown to the law that is &C.
countsble in large measure for its dis
regard, rather than disposition to
'iOAoNS ~ GOptC hbu tue
law thoroughly. but when it is once ex>
planned they almost unsnimo OF sly favor it
and abide BY it."
The truants seem to know you pretty
wellgr
Know me! l guess they do; buttI
manage to get hold of most OF them, and
II lnnrr in
school is the best place for them"
In order TO remove some doubts and
Misunderstanding that have arisen in
regard to the scope and meaning of the
provisions of the compulsory educational
law of Illinois. Dr. Richard Edwards. the
state superintendent OF public instruc-
tion has rendered the following decisions
in which it is understood he 8 supported
~ the attorney general:
The first section of the compulsory
educational law contains the following
mandatory provisions:
|. Every person shall send his chill
dren to school at least sixteen weeks
each year. provided the children are be-
tween the ages of seven and fourteen
years.
2. He must send such children to
school consecuuvely (regulaTly), for at
least eight weeks.
3. The time for sending such children
TO school shall commence with the be-
ginning OF the first term IF the school
year. or as soon thereafter as due notice
shall be served upon the person having
| control of such children.
The above are the duties imposed by
this law upon the parent Or other person
having control Of children.
Then follows a clause witch provides:
For every neglect of slch duty, the
/ parent or other person may be fined and
sent to Jail until the fine is paid"
! Here. then. is the penalty. 1t may be
| imposed, as the law says. for every ne
| glect of such duty, as above prescribed.
! In answer TO the question from State
Register reporter, When may the pen
atty be imposedS" DR.. Edwards replied
1T may be imposed when the parent
neglects TO send his child 10 school six
teen weeks in each year; il may be i'm
posed when the parent neQlects TO send
his child to school for at least eight con-
secutive weeks in the year; il may be i'm
posed when the parent neglects 10 COM
beginning of the fret term of the school
year, provided the school board does its
duty by giving notice to such delinquent
parent. II the board. upon investigation.
find that such children are being properly
educated in private scho oil. or other
wise, no penalty need be imposed"
What is the proper course for a school
board to pursue under this law?"
In my opinion each board should first
appoint q truant officer. Care should he
exercised in the selection of truant off,
Ger. He should be q eful man, pos
sessed of good judgment Ii should cons
stsntly be his aim TO get all children of
school age into the schools. rather than
devote his time To securing convictions
under the law. He should interview de-
linquent parents and solicit them to send
their children to school. 1t seems
to me that there viii be time
enough to consider he penalty"
after parents are otfed and pos
itively refuse to educate their chill
dTen. The compulsory educational law
was not passed for the purpose OF infict'
ing penalties merely. but it was passed
for the purpose Of enabling school boards
to get all children OF proper age to attend
school. In the enforce ment OF such u
law the penalty is the last thing to be
considered. As a rule. 1t should be in
fiicted only when all other means fail. -
How does this compulsory law affect
the private and psrochisl schools?" DR..
Edwards answer was:
The compulsory law provides that
directors may approve any private school
and allow pupils to attend it provided
such private school teaches the subjects
Of reading. writing. arithmetic, history Of
the United States and teography-all in
the English language. / take 1t that the
compulsory law does not necessarily in
terfere with the workings Of any private
or parochial school. unless such school
fails to teach the brsncf es above enumer'
ated in the English language. The re.
sponsibility Of approving these private OF
sectarian schools rests pom the boards Of
directors and boards o. education of the
public schools. Under the provision.
of the compulsory law, there can be nc
objection to the teaching Of German ant
l ali rre4 = -.