Mesa free press. [volume] (Mesa, Ariz.) 1892-1901, 1899-07-21
COMPULSORY sCoOL LAW
Be it enacted by the Legislative AS
sembly of the Territory
of Arizona; x

Section /. Every parent, guardian
OF other persons in the Territory OF
Arizona, 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 a
public school, or private school taught
by competent instructor, for a
period of at least twelve weeks in
each year, six weeks of which time
shall be conservatives provided that
such parent, guardian or other person
having control of such child or child
rem shall be excused from such duty
by the echool board of district when
ever it shall be shown to its satisfac-
ton that ond of the following reasons
exists therefore, to-wit:
lst. That such child is taught at
home by competent instructor In
such branches as are usuallp taught
in the public schools.
End. 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 povertp to properly clothc such
child.
4th. That such child is in such
physical or mental condition (as de-
clared by competent physician. if
required by the boardD to render such
attendance inexpcdient or impracti-
able.
9th. That there is no school taught
the requisite length of time within
two and one half miles Of the resi-
dence of such ci;lld by the nearest
travelled road; provided, that no child
shall be refused admission to any pub
lie school on account of race or color.
Sec. 2. Any parent, guardian or
others failing to comply with the
provisions of Section l of this act,
shall be deemed guilty of misdemea-
nor, and upon conviction he fined in
sum not less than five nor more
than twenty-five dollars for such
offense; said action shall be prosecuted
in the name of the Territory of Ari-
coma, before any court of. competent
jurisdiction, and all fines SO collected
shall be paid into the county treasury
placed to the credit of the school
fund of the district in WHICH the Of
Tense occurs.
Sec, 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 four
teen years of age not in attendance at
school; and any district clerk failing
to furnish such list within the time
specified herein shall be guilty OF
II isdemeanor and liable to a fine in
any sum not to exceed ten dollars for
each offense; and such fine when col
lected shall be paid into the county
treasury and placed to the credit of
the school fund of the district in
which the ogensa occurs.
Sec. 4. 1t shall be the duty Of the
said Sheriff, Constable, City Marshal
or other Peace Officer of the precinct
| in which said school district is located
to inquire into all such cases of neglect
of the duties prescribed in this Act
| and ascertain from the person neglect
ing the reason, if any therefor, and il
thre be no legal excuse shown shall
forthwith proceed to secure the prose.
cution Of any offense occurring unde,
this Act; and any Deputy Sheriff,
Constable, City Marshal or other
Peace Officer neglecting to secure the
prosecution of such ofense, within
ten days after receiving the list men
toned in Sectian 3, unless the person
80 complained of shall be excused by
the Board of Trustees for the reasons
hereinbefere stated, shall be deemed