The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-12-05
MUST BE GOOD NOW
Truant Officer Will Look After
RunaWays.
siiuh School Assembly Room Must Be
EnIarged--SchooIs
Meeting.

night, took action to rouno up the
truants who ought to be attending
school but who do not go.
Mrs. Smith, of the special commit
tee on compulsory education, present
ed the following report:
To the Honorable Board of Educa-
ton: The special committee to whom
was referred the matter Of investiga-
ting the conditions in our city relative
to the compulsory education of chill
dren beg leave to submit the follow
ing report:
Upon investigation we find that
there are many children of school age
who are not in school. We have list
of seventy-five children who are not
attending any school. OF these about
thirty are in the West Mankato dis
trlct, the others belonging to Union
and Pleasant Grove.
We have reason to believe that there
are many children whose names we
have not yet secured Some of these
children whose names we have, are at
work; many of them are doing very
little. The condition is deplorable.
Our superintendent has corresponded
with many city superintendent with
regard to the methods employed by
other school boards to enforce this
school law. We have been Informed
that at Mortified they have special
truant officer and also at Faribsult Al
Owatonns they are debating the ques-
tion Of having a trunat oficer. Al
Fergus Falls the regular police officers
cooperate with the board, which is
the case also at Rochester and Red
Wing. Albert Lea and Winona have
special truant officers. Our school
laws on this subject are in brief al
follows:
All children between the ages Of
eight and sixteen must be in schoo
during the entire school year, unless
excused by the superintendent o.
city schools.
Children under the age Of sixteer
may be excused by the superintendent
under the following conditions:
One. Parents too poor to cloth
child.
Two. Children physically or men
tally defective.
Three. Efficient teaching in com
mon branches at home.
Four. Children already REASONABLE
proficient in the common branches.
Five Children between fourteei
and sixteen years desiring to engag
in some useful occupation permitte
by law, the labor of the child bein
necessary for the support of the famil
or self.
The city superintendent jurisdit
ton in the granting of excuses sha
apply to all children in the school dill
trict, irrespective of the school the
may have attended. Parents failing
send to school children under the sg
of sixteen without excuse from tt
superintendent, or any persons en-
ploying such children are liable b
such violation to fine not exceedin
$50. 1t is the duty of the boar
of education to take such steps as ms
be deemed necessary to secure compl
snce with or enforcement Of the Law
The report was adopted, and Pres
dent Davis and Messrs. Davies al
Comstock were appointed commit
to interview the mayor.
Mr.. Hughes said that the superb
tendent had named over thirty CHI
dren in West Mankato who are not
tending school, and said that he "
surprised to knew what families tn
belong to.
Superintendent Uline said that tn
were mostly girls. and probably st
at home to assist their mothers.
Mr.. Hughes said that in some ca
three or four girls in one family w
out of school. They would not all
needed to help their mothers.
Mrs. Smith said that in the Fran
lin district those out of school W
mostly boys.
Superintendent UIine was asi
whether many of those out of sch
have excuses, and he replied that co
paratively few have. He knew
seventy-fve that were out with
excuses.
Mr.. Hughes said that pull
officer has no power to make an ar
without a warrant unless he see
crime committed. A truant officer
take child without warrant.
It was thought that one of
police officers could also be appoil
trusnt officer of the board.
Something has got to be done
summer to enlarge the high school
sembly room. II has failed to
all of the pupils this fall. and Supe
tendent Uline reported to the board
the January promotions would
fifteen to twenty-five pupils from
eighth grade into the high sci
Seats must be provided for these.
there are no vacant seats now. S
of the students are seated in chair
the algebra room. The bookkee
room can be used after the holid
but Fifty more seats will be ne
within year or two.
Supt. Uline reported the Mover
attendance to be. as follows:
No. En- No. Re. No
rolled 10 lRing ter
High School .....2lo IS
Eighth Grada IL IOI