St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-04
ROUND Up TRUAnTS.
Supt. Gilbert About to Inau-
gurate War Against Alb
SenteeiSm.
The School Course Impaired
by the Neglect Of Scores
Of Students.
Hundreds Of Children Crow
ing Up in a State of Alb
solute Ignorance.
The Law Governing Truants
and How 1t will Be En-
forced.

Supt. Gilbert is giving personal heed
10 the compulsory educational law that
has thus far been permitted to rest q
"dead letter" or the statute books. 1t
Is his purpose to have it enforced in the
future, and truant children will be ar
rested if extreme measures are found
necessary.
"At recent meeting of the commit
tee on schools of the board of educa-
tion," said Mr.. Gilbert to a GLOBE re-
porter yesterday, "a matter was consid-
cred which is of the utmost Importance
not only to the schools, but to the EN-
tire city, and indeed to the state of Min
nesota, namely. the enforcement of the
act of March, 1885. known as the COM
pulSory attendance act. Although it
has been upon the statute books for six
years. it has never been enforced in the
state, nor has its enforcement ever been
seriously attempted.
''In all portions of the state" pursued
the superintendent, land more particu-
larly in the larger cities, thousands OF
children are growing up in entire ignOr-
ance of all that is good, receiving their
education upon the street and in the sa-
loon. and are being fitted as rapidly and
as completely as possible for the exalted
position of tough and criminal. Any
one who will take the pains to inspect
the records of the police court for
series of mornings must be shocked at
the large number of boys, and even
girls, of comparatively tender years
who appear there as criminals. Any
one who will go to the further trouble
of visiting outlying districts, the hOl-
lows and the flats will be still further
shocked at the sight of the almost in
Vulnerable children who are
Growing Up in Ignorance
and flth-moral and physical.
Nothing can be done which will have
greater influence upon the prosperity
of the city than the bringing of these
waits and worse than waits under the
refining and uplifting influence of the
schools. The difficulties I'm the way are
the ignorance, the indifference, the penu-
robustness and the absolute poverty of
parents. Ignorance and Indifference
can only be met by the strength of the
law, but poverty must be met by large
hearted and wisely directed efforts on
the part of phiantrOpic individuals and
organizations"
Mr.. Gilbert has already started in
Quiry through the principals and teach
erS of the schools, so that he will soon
have in his possession the necessary
facts. AS soon as these are obtained
the board will be ready to take action,
and the various charitable institutions
throughout the city must be ready to be
called upon to furnish the clothing for
these children 10 attend school.
The board of school inspectors and
the superintendent of schools urgently
desire that all public spirited citizens
take personal interest in this matter
and report any eases that may come TO
their knowledge to the superintendent
with ali facts bearing upon the matter
that are ObtainaDle, and that they will
aid in every way, especially by their in
fuence and support in this not easy un-
dertaking.
''In this connection | would like to
add that the law passed by the legisla-
ture last winter" continued Mr.. Gil
bert, ''makes it the duty of the police
department to cooperate with the de-
partnent Of schools, not only in secur-
ing the attendance of those children
who are not sent to school bv their
parents, but in preventing truancy.
Soon arrangements will be completed
which will rob truancy of half its charms
to the youthful mind. The city attor-
ney has given it as his opinion that the
compulsory attendance act can be en-
forced"
Text of the Act.
Be it enacted by the legislature of the state
of Minnesota:
That every parent guardian or other per
son in the stale of Minnesota, having control
of any child or children between the ages of
eight and sixteen years, shall be required to
send such child or children TO a public
school or private school. taught by q COM
petent instructor, for a period of at least
twelve weeks in each year at least six
weeks of which time shall be consecutive,
unless such child or children are excused
from such attendance by the board of the
school district, or the board of education of
the city or lndeDeudent school district in
which such parent, guardian, or person hav-
ing control resides, upon its being shown TO
their satisfaction that such parent or guard
ian was not able, by reason of pow
ertv. TO clothe such child properly
or that such chld's bodily or mental condi-
ton has been such as TO prevent his attend
ance at school or application 10 study for the
period required, or that such child or Chill
dren are Taught at home in such branches of
study as are usually taught in the public
schools, subject to the same examination rs
other pupils of the district or CITY in which
the child resides. or that he has already ac-
CURED the ordinary branches REQUIRED by
law, or that there is no school taught within
two miles by the nearest travelled road
Any parent. guardian or other person fail
ing to comply with the provisions of this
act shall. upon conviction, be deemed guilty
OF misdem5anor and fined in sum not
less than $40 or more than SOS for the first
Offeuse, nor more than $50 for the second
ana every subsequent offense Said action
shall be prosecuted in the name of the slate
of Minnesota, before any court of competen:
jurisdiction, and all fines so collected shall
be paid into the county treasury of the
proper county for the support of common
schools.
1t shall be the duty Of any school director
or president of the board of education TO in
quire into all cases of neglect of the duty
prescribed in this act, and ascertain from the
nprSOnE naploCf1n0 1f
therefor, and shall forthwith proceed 10 pro
cure the prosecution of any offense occur
ring under this act and any director or
president neglecting to secure such prosecu-
uon for such offense within ten days after
written notice has been served upon him by
any taxpayer i'll said district or CITY, unless
The person so complained of shall be ex-
cused by the district or city board, or board
of education.for reasons hereinbefore stated,
shall he deemed guilty OF misdcmeanor
and liable to a fine Of not less than $50 nor
more than $50, which fine shall be prose
cuted for and in the name of the state of
Minnesota, and such fine, when collected,
ball