Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-08-27
The New School Law.

The law known as tie compulsory
school law passed by the last legislature
is now in force, and, as it is an entirely
new departure in the legislation of this
state In school matters, q short synopsis
of the law may be of interest.
The law provides that any person
having control of any child of the age
Of seven to fourteen years, inclusive, in
proper physical and mental condition
to attend school, shall cause such child
to attend some public, private, or paro-
chisl school where the common branches
of reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic,
grammar, geography, physiology, and
United States History are taught; or to
attend some equivalent instruction by
competent teacher elsewhere than
school for at least twelve consecutive
school weeks in each school year. And
any person violating this provision is,
by the statute. to be guilty of a INSIDE
meanor, and fined not less than $500,
nor more than $4,000 for each offense;
provided, however, that the law in this
particular shall not apply where the
child lives more than two miles from
any school by the nearest travelled road,
except in those districts in which the
pupils are transported at public expense,
nor does it apply to those cases where
the child is excused for sufficient rea-
sons by any court of record or judge
thereof.
It is made the duty of the Directors,
the president of the Board of Directors
and any truant officer appointed by such
Board to enforce the provisions of the
Act, to sue FOR and recover the penalties
provided, and to institute criminal pros
ecution against any person violating the
provisions of the Act, and placing a
penalty upon such officers for neglect.
ing their duty after due notice.
The Board of Directors of each
school corporation may appoint one or
more truant officers, who may be con-
stable, or member of the police, whose
especial duty 1t is to see to the enforce
ment of the provisions Of this Act, and
to apprehend and take into custody
without warrant any child of the age Of
seven to fourteen years, inclusive, who
habitually loiters about public places
during school hours without lawful oc-
cupation, or who cannot produce Ger
tificate of his attendance upon school
In accordance with law or of his excuse
therefrom; and also to take any truant
child who absents himself or herself
FROM school and place such child in
charge of the teacher of the school in
which said child is entitled to attend,
the parent or guardian having the
right to designate the school, but in
case the school designated by the par
emit or guardian be public school, it
must be such as directed by the rules
and regulations of the School Board,
and in case 1t be other than public
school the maintenance of the child
shall be at the expense of the parent or
guardian and in case the child fails to
attend the schools wherein it is placed,
or when on report of the teacher hav-
Ing the custody of the child, it is shown
to not properly conduct itself in the
school where placed, the Board of Di-
rectors may remove it and place it in q
public school, or truant school con-
Quoted by the district.
The law provides that the Board Of
Directors may establish truant schools,
or set apart separate rooms in public
school buildings for the instruction of
children who are habitually truant, and
In case any child committed or sent to a
trusnt school prove insubordinate, 1t is
the duty of the person in charge of such
school, with the consent of the parent
or guardian, to file information before
the judge of q court of record, who may,
II the charge be found true and the
phild be found to be habitually vagrant,