The St. Johns herald., 1899-07-08
EDUCATIONAL
 DEPARTMENT.
COMPULSORY SCHOOL LAW.
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assem-
 ply oftl Territory of Arizona:

Be It enacted by the Legislative Assem-
 bly, oftl Territory of Arizona: Section l. Every parent, guardian or
 other persons in the Territory of Ari-
 zona, having control of any child or
 children between the ages of eight and
 fourteen years, shall be required to send
 such child or children to pu6lics hool,
 or private school taught by 6 competent
 instructor, for period of at least twelve
 weeks in each year, six weeks of which time shall be consecutive; provided,
 that such parent, guardian or other per
 son having control of such child or children shall be excused from such du- ty by the school board of district
 whenever it shall be shown to its satis- faction that one of the following reasons exists therefore, to-wit:
 1st. That such child is taught at home
 by a competent instructor m such
 branches as are usually taught in the public schools.
 2nd. That such child has already acquired the branches of learning taught in the public schools.
 3rd. That such parent. guardian or
 other person is not able by reason of poverty to prop rly clothe such child.
 4th. That such child is in such physical or mental condition Gas declared by & competent physician, if required by the
 board) to render such attendance inex- pedient or impractiable.
 5th, That there is no school taught the requisite length of time within two and one-half miles of the residence of such child by the nearest travelled road; provided, that no child shall be refused admission to any public school on ae- count of race or color.
 Sec. 2. Any parent, guardian or oth- CTS failing to comply with the provisions of Section 1 of this act, shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and upon con- viction be fined in sum not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars for such ofense; said action shall be prosecuted in the name of the Territory of Arizona, before any court of compe- tent jurisdiction, and all fines SO collect ed shall be paid into the county treas ury placed 10 the credit of the school fund of the distirct in which the ofense occurs.
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the clerk of each school district not later than twenty days after the commence ment of each school term, to furnish a Deputy Sheriff, City marshal or other Peace Officer with list of names of all children between eight and fourteen years of age not in attendence at school; and any district clerk failing to furnish such list within the time specified here in shall be guilty of misdemeanor and li- able to fine in any sum not to exceed ten dollars for each offense; and such fine when collected shall be paid into the county treasury and placed to the credit of the scool fund of the district in which the offense occurs.
 Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the sad Sheriff, Constable, City Marshalor other Peace Officer of the precinct in which said school districh is located to inquire into all such cases of neglect of the duties prescribed in this Act and as- certain from the person neglectIng the reason, if any therefor; and if there be no legal excuse shown shall forthwith proceed to secure the prosecution of any ofense occurIng under this Act; and any Deputy Sheriff, Constable, City or other Peace Officer neglect ing to secure the prosecution of such of- fense, within ten days alter receiving the list mentioned in Section 8. unless the person so complained of shall he ex- ,used by the Board of Trustees for the reasons hereinbefore stated, shall be deemed guilty of mIsdemeanor and fable to fine in any sum not to exceed fifty dollars; and such fine when collect I'd shall be paid into the county treas Try and plced to the credit of the school und of the district in which the ofenss occurred.
 Sac. 5. If upon the trial of any of ense as charged in Section it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction ofthe ourt or judge trying the same that snch was malicious. then the osts iii such case shall be adjndged gainst the complainant or person insti- uting such proceedings and collected s fines in other cases.
 Sec. 6. All Acts and parts of Acts in onfict with this Act are hereby re ealed.
 Sec. z. This Act shall take effect and e in force from and after it's passage. Approved March 2nd, 1899.