The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-25
BAD "HOOKEY" BOYS.
Secretary Leidy Is After Them
With a New Law.

If Senator Fremont Leidy's bill to pre-
vent truancy becomes a law the bad, small
boy who plays hockey will thereby place
himself IN danger of arrest and trial be
fore court Of competent jurisdiction
Leidy used to be d school teacher himself
and he knows something about the needs
of the state for protection. He sees merit
in this bill, which was presented by him
at the urgent request of the State Teach
ers' association.
In the senate Tuesday afternoon the bill
was faVorably reported by the committee
of the whcle after considerable debate and
an effort to substitute a bill relating to
the same subject which had been prepared
by Senator Morrow. Morrow is a cattle
man and the rest of the senate was not in
clined to accept his opinion upon the sub
Ject of the enforcement of education so
readily as it did Senator Leidy's. The
Leidy blli provided for the appointment Of
a truancy officer. while AIOrrow's measure
contemplated the distribution of the state
school tax according to the interest the
different school districts took in keeping
up their proportion Of attendance.
A truancy officer is to be appointed. IN
der the Leldy Dill, N each OF five districts
in which a county shah be divided by the
county commissioners, except in the case
OF cues OF the r1st ana second classes IN
which the boards of education will appoint
the functionaries. The bin says that on
the complaint OF q teacher or resident OF
the district the officer Shall imn ediately
give written notice to the parent, guar
dian or other person having control or
charge of such child that the attendance
of such child at school is required, and if
within nVe days such parent, guardian o.
other person having control or charge Of
such child does not conn ~ with the pro-
visions of this section. then such truant
officer shall make complaint in the name
Of the state of Kansas against such par
ent. guardian or other person having con-
troll or charge Of such child, before any
court of competent jurisdiction, and upon
conviction of the provisions of this act,
such parent, guardian or other persons
having control or charge of such child
shall be adjudged guilty of a nisdemeanor
and be nned in a sum not less than s. nor
more than S25, and all fines collected shall
be paid into the county treasury for the
support of the common schools.
In case any pupil becomes an habitual
truant or becomes a menace to the best
interests of the school which he is at
tending, then it shall be the duty Of the
truant officer to report said facts and con-
ditions to the parent or guardian Of said
child. The parents shall be held liable
under this act for the regular attendance
and good conduct of said child unless said
parent or guardian shall state in writing
to said truant officer that the child is be-
yOnd the control of said parent or guar
dian. Then it shall be the duty of the tru-
ant officer to proceed against such pupil
under the provisions of the law governing
juvenile disorderly persons.
The truancy officer is to receive pay at
the rate of two dollars per day for the
time engaged.