The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-07-24
The New School Law.

lue new compulsory education law
passed by the last legislature has Just
reached here in full in the few copies of
the session laws compilation received by
Leon lawyers. 1t puts new duties on
school officers, creates a new school Of
flee, and places penalties on some par
ents who do not obey its provisions.
In short. it compels every parent, or
other person controlling a child between
seven and fourteen years old, to send
that child to school somewhere at least
twelve weeks in the school year. Care
full provision is made to protect those
children being educated outside the
public schools; and attendance at
schooling may be anywhere, in parochial
or private school, or under a private tu-
tor. The only provision is that the or.
binary common school branches be
taught in the school which the child at
tends-reading, writing, spelling, :arith.
metic, grammar. geography, physiology
and United States History. The penal.
ty on the parent or guardian is a 6ne of
from three to twenty dollars for, viola
ton of the act, if the child is physically
and mentally able to go to school.
There is a rather elaborate system of
checks by which it can be quickly ascer-
taine1 whether a given child is attend
ing any school. On demand, and at
least once a year, the head of each par.
ochial or private school is to furnish the
secretary of the board Of education a re.
port of the names, ages and attendance
of all the pupils in the school; this re-
port is filed by the school board secre.
tary for reference. Reports on any In.
dividual pupil may be called for at any
time. Parents with children in private
schools shall furnish the secretary a
Certificate to that effect on demand.
The object of this il to keep a record of
children attending other than the pub
lie schools in order hat they may not
be bothered.
The board of education must appoint
a tiuaA1 oHlScl, NAO may pS d COuSldD!c
or policeman or anyone else whose duty
it is to have active charge of the en-.
forcement of the law. If a child be-
tween seven and fourteen years of age,
able physically and mentally to attend
school, letters habitually in public
places without lawful occupation, the
truant officer is to take the child to the
school where he belongs and is enrolled.
If the truant child is not in a parochial
or private school, it shall be delivered
to the proper teacher of the public
schools.
The truant officer shall at once report
the case to the secretary of the board of
education. the president of whicha. shall
prosecute the parent for the fines i'm.
posed; if he does not do SO after notice
by any citizen; the president of the
board of education will be fined from
ten to twenty dollars in each case. .1
All superintendent, teachers, school
officers and employees are required to
promptly report any violations of this
law of which they may obain knowledge
or information.
The law seemsv very carefully drawn to
insure that the citizens and voters OF
the future obtain at least some educa.
ton; that this education may be OBJ.
tanned in any school the parent chooses
and that the taking up of truant chill.
dren shall be limited to the minimum
by combining this to those habitually
lettering in public places. The person
to sympathise with next winter is the
truant officer; he will be the objective
point for many forcible kicks.
Something Unique in Photography
Platinotype, Platino and Solo work.
Can give you black and white or sepia
tones. Come and see The work.
HENRIETTA VoGT,
t f~f- Norkh C;Jo nf Cpro.o