The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-04-03
is NOT ENFORCED.
Compulsory Education is Comparatively
Unobserved in Oregon.

Is NOE Emf ohCED
Unobserved in Oregon.
The following circular letter with
been issued by State Superintendent
Irwin:
Salem, Ore, March "a, 1897.
To County superintendents and Boards
of School Directors:
The attention of the county superin-
tendent, and through him, the atten-
ton of the boards of school directors,
is called to the following law pertain
| ing to compulsory education:
Section So. Every parent, guardian,
| or other person in this state having
control or charge of q child or children
| between the ages of s and ii years
shall be required to send such child or
children to public school for period
of at least II weeks in every school
year, of which at least eight weeks
school (shall) be consecutive, unless
the bodily or mental condition of such
child or children has been such as TO
prevent his or her or their attendance
at school or application to study for the
period required, or unless such child
or children are taught in private
school, or at home in such branches as
are usually taughtin the public schools;
provided, in case public school shall
not be taught for the period OF II
weeks, or any part thereof, during the
year, within two miles by the nearest |
travelled road of the residence of any |
person within the school district. he |
or she shall not be liable to the pro-
visions of this act.
Section &c. Any parent. guardian,
or other person having control or
charge of any child or children failing
to comply with the provisions OF this
act shall be liable to fine of not less
than SIS nor more than S25 for the first
offense, nor less than $25 nor more
than $50 for the second and each sub
sequent offense. besides the cost of the
prosecution.
Section 67. 1t shall be the duty of
the directors and clerk of each school
district to make diligent effort to see
that this law is enforced in their re-
spective districts.
Section 68. Justices of the peace
shall have concurrent Jurisdiction with
the circuit court in all prosecutions
under this act.
This Office has become aware that
but little or no attention is paid to the
law compelling children to attend at
least II weeks during the year. To
look over the statistics one is impressed
that there must be many children of
school age who do not attend our public
schools. This law was enacted for a
purpose, and it is apparent that the
purpose contemplated was to have the
children attend the public schools in
order that illiteracy aud ignorance
may be reduced to minimum.
The safety and welfare of the country
largely depends upon the efficiency of
our public schools. wherein not only
of books and literature is
but where good govern
nent, loyalty and love of country is !
nculcated.
The law is on the statute book, and
hould not remain dead letter. The
luty of seeing it enforced rests with
he boards of school directors. and the
Jerks of the several school districts.
The clerks of the several districts \
laving the number of pupils on the +
tatistical roll, and the teacher or F
eachers of the district having the
ges and number enrolled as in at
enhance at school, some knowledge n
nay be gained as to how nearly this n
aw of school attendance is observed. y
This is also one of the duties of the
ounty superintendent. that he should
cquaint himself with the attendance
t school and give direction to the A
cards of directors in regard to the T
natter of school attendance. 7
Bring the law before the people, &C.
udluU OAOla NlVh iuo iCQ anu -
enalties, and it is believed that there
ill not be so many children, of the
ge included under the law, who do
OF and will not attend the public
,hool. The state does not get near q
le value it deserves for the support of
he common schools, because OF the v
Lct that so many do not avail them
lives of the privilege. The state can >
OF afford to allow this neglect and in U
ifference of the public schools to exist, 'l
ut must, in some way, see that the d
nildren have some education.
Yours truly, d
G. M. IRWIN, u
State Sup't Public Instruction. O