The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-04
WANTS COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Senator Hobson's Great Literary IF
fort.

Senator Hobson's Great Literary Eff
fort.
The compulsory education bill intro
duced by one of the republican members
of the senate, Mr. Hobson of Parke, is at
tracing considerable attention. The fol-
lowing is a verbatim ad literatum copy of
the bill with the exception OF the quota
ton marks:
An act concerning compulsory education
and providing penalties Tor the violation OF
the same:
Section /. Be it enacted by the general as
sembly OF the state OF Indiana: That every
person having under their control child
between the age of seven and fourteen years,
shall annually" cause such child to attend for
at least sixteen weeks, at least eight weeks of
which attendance shall be consecutive. some
public day school in the city or town or "des-
triot" in which they reside, which time shall
commence with the beginning OF the first term
OF the school year as soon thereafter as due
notice shall have been served upon the person
have such "ccntrolP' of their duty under this
act. For every neglect OF such duty the per-
son so offending shall on conviction forfeit to
the use OF the public school fund q sum not
less nor more than twenty dollars and shall
stand committed until such fine and
costs of suit paid or replevied
But il the person so negecting shall
show 20 the satisfaction of the
court trying the case that such child has at
tended for a like period of time private day
school Approved" by the "bord" of education
or township trustee of the city town or
"destrict" in which such child resides or that
instruction mas otherwise been gwen for like
period of time to such child In the branches
economy" taught in the public schools or that
such child has already "aequiered" the branch
es OF learning taught in the public schools or
that their physical or mental condition as de-
clared by a competent condition is such to
render such attendance inexpedient and I'M
practicable then such penalty shall not be
incurred" Such fine when collected shall be
paid n 10 the county treasury as other fines
and forfeitures for the use of the public school
fund.
But no school shall be regarded as q school
under this act unless there shall be taught
therein in the Englis h language orthography,
reading writing arithmetic history OF the
United States geograpee grammar and phys-
ology there are pupils competent to 'persew"
said branches.
Sec. 2. l shall be the duty of the "bord' of
education OF every city or town to appoint and
the citizens of every school "destrict" TO elect
at there" annual school meeting one or more
truant officers "whoos" duty il shall be 10 care
fully "enquir" concerning all persons who shall
appear TO be guilty of such violations and
prosecute the same. 1t shall be the duty of
such officers to arrest children of a school CO.
ing age who habitually haunt public places
and have no lawful "ocupation." and also
truant children who absent themselves from
school without consent and place them In
charge of the teacher having charge Of the
public school which the said children are by
law entitled 10 attend. And il shall be the
duty of said teacher to assign said children to
the proper classes and instruct them in such
studies they are fitted to 'persew." Such
truant officers shall have compensation for
service rendered under this act as shall be
designated by the county "hord" of education
with all necessary "expences incurred" by
them In discharging their duty. which compen-
sation shall be paid out of the city or township
fund us the case may be-
Sec. g. Any person having CONTROL" of a
"chils" who with intent TO evsde the PRO
VISIONS" of this act shall make a "wilfel falls"
statement concerning the age or time such at
tend school shall for such offence upon con-
vction forfeit sum not less than three nor
more then twenty dollars for the use of the
public school fund and shall stand committed
until such fine and COSTS are paid or repevied,
Sec. 4. "Prosess' under this act shall be
in the name OF the state of Indiana.
Sec. D. Police municipal officers justice OF
the Peace aud judges OF the circuit courts shall
have jurisdiction herein.