The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-14
rRUANr LAW FOR KANSAS.

Frank Nelson, superintendent of pub
lie instruction, is putting in considera-
BILE time at present in looking up data
with reference to compulsory education
In his next report he will include a
strong recommendation to the legisla-
ture that new compulsory education
law be enacted-one that will com
pulse"
I'VE have a compulsory education law
now" said superintendent Nelson in
speaking of the subject. ''but it is not
worth anything. Its enforcement is left
with the school board. which is nearly
always made up of men who are too
busy to see If every child attends
and If it ever was any good we have
outgrown it.
what is needed is a special officer
to look after the business. Here in To-
peka, for instance. there are many boys
whose parents believe they are going to
school regularly, but who are not doing
so. The teachers do not know that the
boys belong in school and the parents
do not know that they are not school
The same condition exists in nearly ev-
cry other town to a greater or less ex-
tent 1 have been looking up the mes
sages of former governors to see If they
have said anything on the subject, and
1 find that Governor James M. Harvey
put it about right in his message away
back in 1872. He says:
eve cannot avoid the consequences
of the neglected children; dire results
will follow, not only to the neglected.
but to society guilty of the neglect An
ignorant multitude is always danger
Gus: education is therefore a measure
49, hos <Tae
same right to require the growing boy
to be so educated as to fit him for good
citizenship, that it has to require him
when grown to take his place in the
ranks for the public defense. or to sit in
the jury box to assist in the determine
ton of the rights of his fellow citizens.
The true theory of our government is
that it is the creature of society. aris-
ing from a common desire for public
defense and personal protection; that
the people are the source of power and
are ultimately responsible for the man
ner of it's exercise"
This matter was talked over at the
state superintendent round table at
the national educational association in
Detroit. and it seemed that Indiana has
the best law on the subject. and Mr..
Nelson says he proposes to recommend
a law framed after the Indiana plan
1.-The plan is to create truant officers,
one for each large town and from one
to five for each county. 1t is the duty
of these truant officers to look especial
ly after children who do not go to
school and to bring prosecution against
parents who keep their children from
school Illegally. The ruant officer will
have a complete list of all children of
school age in the territory over which
he has supervision, and he will also
have daily reports from the teachers
showing what children are in school.
In this way he will be enabled to tell
just what children do not go to school
regularly and he can look them up If
he finds they are kept QUE illegally and
their parents refuse to send them to
school, he must bring prosecution
against the parents, and they are fined
from SIS to s25. The truant officer is paid
according to the time he puts in at his
work He is appointed by the county