Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-14
Compulsory Education Law Re-
quires Schooling For children.
FINES PROVIDED FOR VIOLATION
Measure Enacted by Last General AS
sembIy Will Be Widely FeIt-coun-
ty Superintendent Benah Dimmitt
Issues Circulars Bearing on Question
Iron Wednesdays Daily. i

County superintendent Beniah Dim
mitt is today sending out circulars to
the school secretaries and sub-secre-
taries In his district in reference to the
taking Of the annual school census, in
which he points out section 8 of the
new compulsory education law en-
acted by the last general assembly of
Iowa. Section reads 1T shall be the
duty of all officers empowered to take
the school census to ascertain the
number of children of the ages of Z to
Ia years, inclusive, in their respective
districts" Superintendent Dimmitt
Is requesting that full returns be sent
in Of children between the ages named.
that the provisions of the new law
may be complied with.
The compulsory education law is a
wide one and will affect the people di-
rectly and especially those who have
children to greater extent than is
generally thought. 1t requires that all
children between the ages of seven
and fourteen years must attend some
school. unless physically or mentally
incapacitated and provides punishment
for the children and parents who do
not abide by the law.
All persons having control of chill
dren between the ages named and in
elusive OF those years, shall cause
such child or children to attend some
public, private or parochial school,
where the common branches of read
ing, writing, spelling, arithmetic,
grammar, geography, physiology and
United States history are taught. The
child must attend school for at least
twelve consecutive school weeks each
year. A clause which cannot apply to
Ottumwa provides that this shall not
hold good, if the child resides over
two miles by road from the school
| school, where free transportation is
not provided. The child can be ex-
cused from attending if an order is
issued by court of record in the state
| to that effect.
Provides Fines.
If any person having control of
such child does not see that it is en-
! forced in this instance he shall be
fined not less than So nor more than
$50 for each offense. The proprietors
of private and parochial schools shall
make written report to the secre-
! tary of the school corporation, at his
request, of all the children and their
ages in attendance at such school. AL
! so if there are any children, mentally
or physically unfit to attend school
the parent or person in charge of the
child shall make report to that eff
feet to the school secretary.
Truant Officer.
The matter of appointing truan
officer will probably be taken up b.
the school board at al
early date. The section per
tanning to this provides that the schoo
board at its annual meeting shall ap
point truaEt officer or officers to serv,
during the coming year. This Office
may be a member of the police force
or constable. He shall be empower
ed, if he finds children playing or lott
ering about the streets during tn,
school hours, to take the child t.
school and turn him over to the teach
; er for correction.
If the child is an habitual truant, tn
persons in charge of the truant schoo
may provide such reasonable punish
ment as may be necessary to carry on
the plans of II e school.
The duty of the educational board
/. in this matter is set down explicitly
:, 1t shall be the power of the presiden
to carry out the law and IL he fails t
!, take action within thirty days after tn
time a notice has been served on him
:, he shall be fined not less thar $40 no
more than 500.
With the opening of the school yea
next month, steps will be taken to Ell
force these rules in all the cities an
> towns and rural districts of Iowa.