Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-02-28
TEXT BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.
APPROPRIATION FOR THAT PURPOSE.

county, introduced house bill No. lO3,
and, should Il become law, II will
prove n godsend to the children of In
digent PARENTS and guardians through
out the territory. The new measure is
framed along lines laid down in the
present law relating TO compulsory at
tendance upon some school. private.
UNCONVENTIONAL or public for at least
three months In the year, except that
the age limit Is changed, the method
OF executing the law is materially sim
plihed and the clause in section 1855
of the compiled laws of 1897, authoriz-
ing school directors TO supply children
of INDECENT parents with free books is
remodeled so as TO make such free
books. purchased through the
county or city superintendent, the
property of the school district. These
may he loaned to the pupil for the
term, then to be returned to the Gus
tody of the clerk of the district school
board. In this way II is the aim of
Representative Sanchez TO establish
the nucleus of library In every school
district In New Mexico. Another strong
feature of the bill consists In its eco
monte regulation Of expenditures as II
Is provided that not more than $50
may he expended in any district in any
one year to supply poor children with
free books. The plan for giving this
compulsory school law publicity
through the district judges In their
charge to all grand juries is also good
ard will serve as frequent reminder
to the people that such law exists
ard must be needed The cut in the
age limit is a most desirable change
also. as the present statutory require
ment of to 16 years is entirely too
broad to be readily effective. for at 8
or I, the mother is 10th to permit her
children to leave home; and after
girl or boy attains the age of II, they
are usually needed to aid in earning
a living for the family. The bill in
full is as follows:
Section /. That section 1866, orig
inal school statutes of 1891, as II ap-
pears in the compiled laws OF 1897, is
hereby amended to read rs follows,
viz:
That the school directors or board of
any school district, town or city In
this territory are hereby empowered
and required to compel parents, guar
dams or other persons having the con-
troll. care or direction of children, when
such children do not attend some pri-
vate or denominational school, to Sc I'D
such children under their control to
the public school for at least three
| months In each year, except that chill
dren referred to in this act shall not
he less than nor more than IA years
of age, or OF such physical disability
as to unfit them for school duties
which disability shall he certified to
by some regular practicing physician.
Sec. 2. Any parent. guardian or
other person having the control of chill
dren and who shall fail or refuse to
send such children to school as re-
quired by this act, after the clerk OF
| the school district or the clerk of any
town or city school board shall heve
| given public notice containing the sub
stance OF this act. written or printed
in both English and Spanish, by post
| ing same in some conspicuous place
at three saparte points within the dis
trict. or publishing the same in some
newspaper within the district, shall be
punished upon conviction thereof by a
fine Ct not less than IS nor more than
s25. or by Imprisonment for not more
than ten days in any county jail Pro
vided, that il such parent or guardian
is not able 10y reason of poverty, to
buy books for any such child, ii shall
be the duty of the school board of any
town, district or city. upon the facts
being shown TO their satisfaction of a
majority thereof, to purchase. through
the county superintendent or through
the district, town or city superintend.
ent, IL there he one. the necessary
books for the use OF said child or chill.
dren. which books shall he loaned to
said INDECENT pupil during the school
term. yet shall remain the property OF
the district under the care and custody
of the district clerk; Provided further
1 thbt uOl tAtttuiHb my tft'f
dollars may he expended in any dis
trict in any one year for supplying
in0lgeht children with such necessary
books, to be paid for out OF the school
fund OF such district, by warrants
drawn as in other cases; and Provid
ed, also, that there is no school taught
within two miles Of the place Of resi-
denee of said child by the nearest es
tablished road
Sec. 3. County superintendents ar,
hereby vested with general supervisor,
powers In this matter and shall require
directors to comply with the provisions
of the preceding section; and 1t shall
be the duty OF the presiding Judge o
the district courts to give, at each SEES
sion OF the court. the substance OF THU
law as special charge TO their respec
tive grand jurles. and II is made tn
duty Of the district attorneys to CIV
particular heed to the prosecution o
causes growing out OF violations OF thi
AAt al t..4 ~. IN