Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-02-06
MADIsoN. W. Jannary 3. ls0O.

such child h attended school. shall. for snch
ohense, forfeit sun of not less than three dol
lars 1879 no. more than twenty dollars $50 for
the use Of the public schools OF such city, town
or district.
SECTION 4 Five days prior to the beginning
OF any prosecution under this act such board
shall cause written notice so be personally
served upon such person having control of sny
such child, OF his duty under this act, and OF his
default in falling to comply with the provisions
hereof, and If, upon the hearing OF such prose
cuton, 10 ahall appear to the satisfaction of the
court that before or after the receipt OF such
notice such person has caused such child to at
tend a school as provided in this act in good
faith and with intent to continue such attend
ance, then the penalty provided by this act shall
not be incurred.
SECTION > No school shall be regarded as a
school under this act, unless there shall be
taught therein, as part of the elementary educa-
ton Of children, reading, writing, arithmetic and
United States history, in the English language.
SECTION 8. Prosecutions under this act shall
only be mstituted.and carried on by the authority
Of such boards. aud shall be brought in the
name Of said boards and all fines and penalties.
when collected. shall be paid TO the school
treasurer OF such city, town district, or other
officer entitled 70 receive school moneys the
same TO be held and accounted for as other
school moneys received for school purposes.
SECTION jurisdiction to enforce the penal
ties herein described 10 this act is hereby con
lstrates within their respective counties.
The first duty imposed upon school boards by
this law, IS that of determining by formal action
al regularly convened meeting of the board,
by the adoption II a rule or resolution, the num-
Der Of weeks which every child between the ages
Of seven and fourteen years shall attend some
public or private school during the current school
year
This period can not be liked at less than twelve,
more thaA tweaty.four weeks, in one year.
Fora portion or for portions Of the time thus
fixed the attendance must be consecutive, and
boards are to designate in the resolution or rule
adopted the time or times of such consecutive
attendance. Ten days priorto the commence
ment OF this time or these tunes Of consecutive
attendaT the board is required to give public
notice Of the time thas fixed by publishing the
fact in suchmanuer as they may prescribe. For
instance, if a board should determine that all
persons between the ages Of seven and fourteen
years residing in the district. town, village or
city. AZ the case may be, mast attend school for
period Of sixteen weeks, during the year, they
NAV fix The times of consecutive attendance at
eight weeks between November / and January
I. January and March / or April and June l.,
or any time of like character during which the
public school Is to be in session, leaving the par
ents or guardian to elect the periods Of attend
ance for their children or wards from those pre-
acribed
Tbcproyision ina, The compulsory period and
the number Of weeks OF consecutive attendance
shal be liked prior to the first day OF September
IN each year 9 directory only. Where the board
has neglected 70 fX this number Of weeks, as the
law directs. that may stiI be done, provided the
public school win be in session sufficient num-
Der of weeks before the close of the school year
TO render such action by the board practicable
Il is hoped that no board viii neglect or refuse
compliance with the law in this respect.
The second dnty impo I'd npon school boards
by tins act Is that O. carefully considering the
excuses. on the trt Of parents and guardians,
for real Or parent non compliance with the
law The Iw does not presume that every par.
Cit o. Jardiau ean or viii avail himself of the
pr'dc school a. a me ans Of education for his
children or wards, aud it therefore wisely and
iudciously recognizes the right Of choice in
means ana the rigorous exactions of necessity
growing ont Of conditions either Of parent and
guardian, or Of the child Of the prescribed age.
The excuses for non compliance which must be
accepted by the board are four in number, and
briefly stated are as follows:-
al Pecuuiary Or physical inability Of parent
or guardian
y
in time and in kind.
(c) Proficiency Of the child in elementary
branches
eD Physical or mental disability Of the child.
It win be Observed that two OF these reasons
iustiGing non compliance with the law relate to
the parent or guardian. aud two relate TO the
pupil. or the latter eonplet little or nothing
need be said. If the facts exist, it will be a
simple and easy matterto satisfy any reasonable
board. that a child has physical OF mental de-
feet which nhibits attendance upon any school,
Or hat III health equally calls for exemption
from attendance
With persons hlving desire to evade the
law, o. oayoid the natural obligations and re-
possibilities imposed by parental relations, or
those arising from the relations OF a selfimpose d
trust or legal guardianship there will also be no
diAlculty in presenting satisfactory evidence to
the board that the peeHniar situation, or dis
lance from the school or claims OF The family
upon The services of the child form a valid ex-
cuse for non attendance. or that the alledged rec
n.ant is aysiliEg himself or herself OF the option
which The law profTers. and is providing through
some other public or private school. or other
me ns,e uiyaent instruction, both in amount and
III kind. In extent, the instruction must not be
less Than that prescribed by the rule adopted by
tie board. In subjects. the instruction must in,
c'ude reading, writing, arithmetic, and United
states history. in the English language, as pro.
yided in toe fifth section of the act in question
/ NO school. public or private, and no instruction
/ 10 the family or by private tutors should be
4 recognzedas sufficient which does not include
! Instruction in these subjects in this form School
4 Or family Of other forms Of instruction claimed
/ AZ equivalent may include any other branches
of knowledge ana this will he no objection il the
! enumerated studies, in English, are not omitted
! BY this analysis Of the duties Of school boards
under this law it will be readily seen that there
4 5 no attempt or purpose 10 ostracse, Gntagon.
i ize, or many manner OF degree to interfere with
! parochial or any other form Of private schools.
/ The law has due regard for the rights OF con
+ science, and holds parents alone responsible. and
/ requires ofthem only that they provide for theil
I children somehow and somewhere that secular
/ education which the state deems necessary for
4 it, own prosperity. and for the welfare OF its
i citizens Parents guardians and others who
/ may elect other means than the public schoo
4 % the district in which they reside for the edu
catioa % children under their charge or control
/ whom summoned rs the school board Of thei,
/ district must show sufficient reasons for non
I sitcrdauce OF their children upon the public
aool. In hearing excuses OF parents. guardians
and Others boards -hould act fairly, judcionsly
and without prejudice and seek 10 secure the
4 60 ope'ation o. all parents in awakinga public
\ sentiment I'D favor Of the end which the law
coutempates. |. mus, BE borne in nina that
compulsory aaciments are supplementary d y
/ q the persuasive statutes which characterize
I thc great boiy % laws apon which the school
/ system ot Wisconsin + founded
4 The thing hat i antagonized by this law is
/ the practice ofalloaing children Of this state OF
/ proper school age TO pass that period OF life
/ without acquiring a miuimam Of educatioa in
/ the elementary branches without acquiring the
/ ability 70 think ia the language Of the country
/ 60 exptes- themselves intclligibly in that Ian
suage orally, 10 writing. and in business forms
+ ana without becoming familiar with the essen
Z tai featates of United States history. To this
+ emo, through This statute, the state has invoked
I thc active energy q al school officers to say e
+ The futpra citizens reared within the CON mon
wealth. from the iveparsh'e loss and disadyant-
I age which follow neglect or cnpidity, 10 depriy-
/ ing chieren % their righffal heritage
All classes Of citizens ooneede the right Of the