Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-03-13
HOUSE BILL NO. 1873.

SOIy altSuuduCc VI PuPLAo oPO0 IN
free schools of the State.
Be 1t enacted by the Legislature
of the State of West Virginia:
Every person having under his
control child or children between
the ages Of eight and fifteen years
shall cause such child or childrs n to
attend some public school for a
period of twenty weeks yearly be-
ginning with the beginning of the
school term. For every neglect of
such duty the person offending
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
ard shall, upon conviction thereof
before any justice, be fined two
dollars for the first oftense and five
dollars for each subsequent ofense,
which fine shall be paid into the
building fund of the district In
which said offerse occurs. An
offense, as understood In this act,
shall consist In failure for two days
In any week to send to school any
child except 1t be shown that the
bodily or mental condition of the
child does not permit of Its attend
ance or that such child has attend
ed for a like period OF time pri'
vate school or has been otherwise
instructed for a like period of time
In the branches of learning required
by law to be taught In the public
schools, or has already satisfactorily
completed such branches or pro-
vided there be no school within two
miles of any pupils residence by
the nearest travelled road.
The board of educa ion OF every
district or independent district at
its first annual meeting or as soon
thereafter as practicable shall sp
point one or more truant officers
whose duty 1t shall be to enforce
the provisions of this act. Each
officer so appointed shall use due
diligence to ascertain any violations
of this law and when from personal
knowledge or by report. or COM
plant from any resident or teacher
of the district under his supervision
he believes that any child subject
to the provisions Of this act is
habi,ually absent from school he
shall Immediately give written
notice to the parent, guardian or
cuatodian of such child that the
attendance of such child at achool
Is required and if within FIVE days
such parent, guardia Or custodian
of said child does not comply with
the provisions of this section then
such truant officer shall make com
plant against such parent, guar
dish or custodian before the
nearest justice of the peace;
Provided, That only one notice
shall be required for any child In
any one year.
Teachers In ungraded schools
and principals and superintendent
In graded and high schools shall
report to truant officers all cases OF
violation of this Act among the
enumerated youth of their sub.dis-
tricts or independent districts and
shall furnish any reports and infor'
nation necessary to proper hear
Ing of any case before a justice OF
the peace and all such teachers,
principals or superintendent shall
assist truant officers In every rea
sonable way In carrying out the
visions of this Act.
Justice shall remit to the sheriff
at once all fines collected under the
provisions of this act so that they
may be credited to the building
fund of the proper district and
every truant officer shall make to
the sheriff an itemized statement on
the last day of the month of all
fines imposed under his iurisdic
ton.
Said truant officers shall be paid
monthly at the tate o. two dollars
per day for the time actually spent
In the discharge Of their duties as
such officers, but In no case shall
pay ment for any months services
be made until the truant officer has
filed with the secretary of the
board of education copy of the
statement to the sheriff for that
month together with sworn state
ment of the number of truancy
cases investigated and the time
actually ectually employed In such
duties. When the truant officer has
faithfully performed his duties and
fleL the statements required by