The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-20
STATE TRUANCY BOARD
ITS INSTRUCTIONS SENT TO THE
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
Advice to Divide the Counties Into rs
Small a Number of Districts
Possible.

The state superintendent of instruction
and secretary of the State Board of Chari-
ties have organized the State Truancy
Board for the purpose of appointing the
truant officers required by the new compul-
sorry education law. These officers are to
be appointed by these two state officers
acting in conjunction with the county SUI
perintendent and the city or town superin-
tendent where there is one. Yesterday
they sent out the following circular to
county superintendent, instructing them
on the subject of dividing their counties
and selecting truant officers:
Under the compulsory education law of
Indiana, the first thing TO do in organizing
the work for the coming year is to divide
your county into districts, for which tru-
ant officers, in your opinion, should be APP
pointed. Make this division by townships.
Cities containing 5000 population or more
may be made separate districts, and the
city superintendent in such cities will be
consulted in reference 10 appointment of
truancy officers therein Before districting
your county please consult with the super
intendents of schools in any cities in your
county which contain less than 5000 popu-
lation, in order that the districts may be
made satisfactory to all concerned. II diff
ferenceS of opinion arise, or II Super1n-
tendents in cities less than 5000 population
believe their municipalities should be made
separate districts, the members of the APP
pointing board in Indianapolis will decide
the matter. In any case in which a truancy
district is composed in part of country and
part of city, it is intended that Ihe county
and city superintendent shall confer and
agree upon a proper officer for appoint
ment.
Divide your county into as small num-
Der of districts as practicable. We believe
that in the majority of the counties of the
State three truant officers Will be sufficient.
In some counties two may be enough The
maximum allowed to any county by law is
five, including those in the large cities 1t
will be better to have large districts and
fIonT oil
districts and so many officers that but
small amount of work will be assigned TO
each. If we find that districts are too
large, after experience, We may subdivide
them later. 1t will be easier and less en-
barrassing to increase than to reduce the
number of districts
ETC., indicating under each number what
townships and towns or cities compose
of Public instruction for our inspection.
If we find that the districts in some cases
are too small, may think it necessary
TO combine them, although we hope that
your division will be satisfactory.
LAS soon as the districts have been final
ly determined, send to this department the
names of persons whom you recommend
for appointment, one for each district
Kindly remember that in districts contain
superintendents must be consulted in the
selection of appointees. In recommending
persons for appointment we hope that you
will use every effort to ascertain the ntneSS
of each for the work to be required OF
him. We hope also that you will make fit
ness alone the condition of recommended
ton. It would be well to eS TAB naa the
principle that an appointee shall reside
within the district he Is to serve as an
officer. Since the truant officers are to fol
low your direction alone, or the direction
of yourself jointly with that Of city or
town superintendent, you should De sure
that the persons recommended Will carry
out faithfully and properly all instructions
which you give them.
when an appointment is made by the
State board a certificate will be mailed,
properly signed to which the signature or
the county superintendent should be at
tached for districts not containing cltles
or towns and the signatures of the county
and city or town superintendents IN those
districts containing cities or towns. IN
writing the names of persons recommended
be very careful that no error ShaH appear
in the name or initial.
ut is desirable that this work be done
at the earliest possible moment, and TO
that end we ask a prompt compliance with
this circular, in order that we may soon
publish a list of-the districts of the State
as agreed upon by the board for the APP
pointment of truant officers. No particu-
lar form need be used in describing these
districts but they may be written out by
the superint endent in mis- own way