Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-08-15
MUST NOT PLAY "HOOKEY."
Under q New State Law Truancy Oficers
Will See That Children Are Keep.
In School.

Topeka, Kan, Aug. 11.-County
superintendent and city school boards
throughout the state have begun to
appoint truancy officers to enforce tho
tIuancy law passed by the legislature
last winter. The new school year be-
gins next month and the authorities
are naming the truancy officers now
Sc they can take an enumeration and
get things in shape for the opening Of
school. A truancy officer began TAX
ing census last week in Marion
county. One eccentric German, John
Faust, refused to give the ages of his
children as required by law. He was
arrested and fined S. and costs,
amounting in all to $2S. He then gave
their ages. The result of this case will
make it easy on truancy officers in
other counties.
The truancy act provides that every
person or guardian having control OF
any children between and Is
years of age shall be required to send
them to some public, private, denom-
national or parochial school during
the full school term. Any child over
IA, however, who can read and write
the English language and must sup
port himself or others dependent upon
him, need only go to school eight
weeks a year. Holders Of graduation
certificates from common schools are
exempt. So are all children who arc
physically and mentally incapacitated.
but in such cases the truancy officer
must not take the word Of the parents
or guardian, but must have the child
examined by board of physicians
appointed by the school authorities.
Each county must have at least one
truancy officer and the big counties are
allowed not to exceed five. The officer
shall have a complete enumeration OF
the school children in his district. The
teachers must make a monthly re-
port showing the absentees. During
the month also when teacher finds a
pupil playing hockey, he must noti-
fy the truancy officer, who shall round
up the youngster and force him to
attend school. If q parent refuses to
send his child to school after receiv-
ing notice he stands liable to a fine
of from S. to s25. The parent or
guardian is held responsible for the
conduct of the child, unless he states
in writing that the child is beyond his
control. In that event 1t shall be the
duty of the truancy officer to have the
child sent to the reform school.
The truancy officers will receive 81
day, payable out OF the school fund,
and they can only receive pay for the
number of days each year that the
school is in session. Before the teach
ers can get their money each month
thew must make report showing the
names and addresses of all pupils who
have been truant, or habitually aD-
sent. The name, place and birth OF
every child is taken and the name ana
address of the parent or guardian. Ii
a parent or guardian refuses to give
such information under oath he sub
iects himself to a fine. With truancy
officers patrolling every street in the
cities and every road in the country
during the school year looking for
Youngsters who are playing hockey.
the average attendance in the common
schools of Kansas will no doubt show
q big increase this year over that or
past years.