Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-09-03
THE rRUANcY LAW.

The last legislation passed compul
capitalization law which is perhaps o
as much Importance to the educationa
interests of the state as any Legislation
of recent years. At various times sug
gestions and comments have been made
through this column with regard to thi
law. There seems to be many people
who do not yet understand this law anC
it is deemed advisable to write a more
extended account of it and the manner
of its enforcement. The law provides
that all children between the ages OF
eight and fifteen years must attend
school during the entire session Pal
ents or guardians shall determine wheth.
er the child attend public, private, de.
nominational, or parochial school, The
state may insist that such school shall
be taught by a competent instructor.
If child of the age of fourteen years or
more is able to read and write the
English language and is actively
and regularly employed for his own
support or support of those dependent
upon him, he is only required to attend
school for eight consecutive weeks. If
child is physically or mentally incapa-
citated for the work of the schools he is
exempt from the provisions of this act
but the school authorities may require a
physical examination of such child to
determine whether he is incapacitated.
The law further provides that the
county shall be divided into from one to
five truant districts and truant officer
appointed in each one. This officer
holds his office at the will of the county
superintendent and it is his duty to see
that the provisions of this act are COM
piled with.
In case any pupil becomes an habitual
truant or becomes menace to the best
interests of the school it is the duty of
the truant officer to report such fact to
the parent or guardian. The teacher
here has an opportunity to talk with
the pupil or with the parents and can
usually persuade the child to attend
school without reporting him to the
county superintendent. Every teacher
in the county is urged to use her best
etfotrs to bring about compliance with
the law on the part of every truant be-
fore resorting to the law. 1t is the duty
of the teacher at the close of each month
to report to the county superintendent
the names of any pupils habitually alb
sent. The superintendent as far as
possible will visit the parents and insist
on compliance with the law. But all
cases which he can not successfully
deal with, will be turned over to the
truant officers whose duty it will be to
give written notice to the parent or
guardian that the attendance of such
child at school is required If within
hive days the parent or guardian has not
complied with this notice, then the
truant officer shall make complaint be-
fore justice of the peace and such par
ent or guardian shall be fined not less
than five nor more than twenty five dol
lars. If any parent or guardian shall
report in writing that the child is beyond
the control of said parent or guardian,
the truant officer shall proceed against
said child under the provisions of the
law governing juvenile disorderly per
sons.
All parents are asked to carefully
study and consider this law. 1t is in
tended mainly to reach children who are
most in need of an education. All
citizens who would aid in giving the
state a well educated citizenship are
urged to give this important measure
their unqualified support. Teachers and
truant officers are asked to use good
judgement and discretion in applying
the law.
The intelligent and faithful enforce.
ment of this law will bring great and
lasting benefits to our state.