The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-12-18
aAvnxsA.wEDNEsDAx. Dec Is. 1889.

COMPULSORY education law was passed by |
the last General Assembly of Ohio. take effect
January 1st 1890. Its sections are quite volum-
inious. but may be epitomized as follows:
1t is made the duty of parents, guardians and
other persons having the care OF children to in
struct. or cause them to be instructed in spell
ing. reading writing. E. glish grammar, geog-
raphy anu arithmetic and to send children be-
tween the ages of and ID years to public or
private school for 30 weeks in city, and Ii in
village and township districts. 10 weeks of which
shall be consecutive in the former. and in the
latter. Unsound physical or mental condition
form an exception to the operation of the law
or where home instruction is Afforded 1t is
made unlawful. under pena ty of $50 for zach
offence, for any person. company corporation
TO employ children under the age of ID years,
during the school term and while the public
schools in session unless 1t is shown that the
above has been complied with. or that the child
rem have completed the usual course of primary
and grammar grades in some public or private
school. and the employers shall demand and
keep n record of such proof before hiring
All minors oyer Id and under .6 years. who
cannot read and write the English language.
are Obliged to attend school one half of each
day. or some evening school maintained by the
Board of Education. or to take private instruc-
tion until certificate from the proper authori-
ties is granted them. stating that they can read
at sight and write legibly simple sentences in
the English language.
Every employer must exact such attendance
or furnish private instruction to said minors or
show that they have already complied with the
terms of this section, pay $50 for each offence
of noncompliance. And when any such child
has been discharged from employment by reason
of this section. the person having charge of him
is guilty of misdemeanor and subject to fine
of $5 to $40 for the first, and not less than $40
for each subsequent offense. or imprisonment
for one to three months-unless be furnishes the
child instruction to the degree last stated.
Children between and ID years who are habit
ual truants or are incorrigible. vicious or i'm
moral in conduct while at school; and all such
children and those between IA and IS years of
age unable to read and write. who habitually
absent themselves from school and habitHaily
wander about the streets and public places dur
ing school hours. having business or lawfal
occupation. are to be deemed juvenile disorder
ly persons and subject to the surveillance of a
truant officer whose duty it is to attend to such
matters.
He shall examine into all cases of truancy and
warn the truants, their parents and guardians of
the final consequences of persistent truancy and
require them to send the child to school within
days from notification, and in case of the ir
wilful noncompliance, the officer must make
complaint in any court of Incompetent jurisdiction
where the Offense occurred. A con viction means
fine OF IS to $40. or bond of 500 for the OBJ
servance of this section. If they prove inability
to comply. the court ny send such child to
some juvenile reformatory or county childrens,
home until he is 16 years DID, unless sooner dis
charged by the board of trustees of such insti-
tuition. Sentence may be suspended in case the
child regularly attends school in the meantime,
No child under 9 years of age may be thus sen
fenced.
The cases of INDECENT children. or parents re.
quiring their labor. are referred to the poor
authorities who shall endeavor to obtain suff
cient relief to the child or family to permit the
child to attend school; but he shall not be de
clared pauper unless wilfnlly neglecting the
advantage of such relief
Principals and teachers must report to the
Clerk of the Board of Education the names. age:
and residences of all pupils in attendance al
their schools. This act applys to children en-
titled under existing statutes to attend school
at the Institution for the education of the blind
deaf and dumb.
AS is well stated in a general note on the
margin of the pamphlet containing the new law
"this compulsory law is one of the most impor
tant educational measures of the last twenty If We
years."