The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-09-05

CHILDREN WHO MUST
GO TO SCHOOL NOW
The New Compulsory Law Will
Affect the Schools.
Truant Officer Must Be Appointed
To See That All Children
Go to School.
THE LAW Is VERY STRICT

The approach of school days makes
the new compulsory education law of in
terest all over the state. 1t is:
Section THAT every parent, guar
dian or other person in any city of
the first, second, third or fourth class
within this commonwealth, having the
control Of any child or children between
the ages Of seven and fourteen years,
shall be required TO send such child or
children, annually, to some public or
private school for children for the full
term of such school and if such attend
ance be upon private school, it shall
be one full term of which is not less
than five months: Provided, however.
that this act shall not apply in any
case where the child is physically or
mentally unfit to attend school, or has
already acquired the common school
branches required by law; such acquisi-
tion 10 be tested and certified in the
same manner and at the same time as
in the case Of county graduates of the
common school.
See I'm the first week in July each
year the board of education in each city
Of the first. second. third and fourth
classes, shall appoint one person for
each three thousand pupils, or fraction
thereof to serve as truant officer, whose
term of Office shall be for one year from
date of appointment and whose aus
thority shall be limited to the city
where the appointment is made; such
person 80 appointed shall be of strict
moral character, and with ability TO
read and write. Truant officers shall be
paid from the school tax levy of such
city. at the rate of not less than 81 nor
more than $3.50 for each school day.
See. 3.-Truant officers shall examine
into any case of truancy within the city
and shall VAN the parent, guardian or
Others in charge Of the child of the final
consequences of truancy if persisted in.
When any child within the ages of sew
en- and fourteen years, is not attending
school without lawful excuse. and in
violation of the provisions of this act.
the proper truant officer shall notify the
parents. guardian or other person in
charge of the fact, and require such
person to cause the child To attend
some recognized school within five days
from the date of notice, and il shall be
The duty of such person so TO cause it,
attendance at some recognized school.
| pom failure TO do so. the truant officer
shall make complaint before a justice OF
he peace of the county in which such
'hild lives. against the parent. guar
liam or other person having such child
N charge, and upon conviction the par
rnt, guardian or other person in charge
'hall forfeit 20 the use of the school
N the city in which such child resides
! sum not less than S. nor more than
go for the first ofTense, not less than
SO nor more than $50 for the second
md every subsequent olrense, and cost
If suit.
Sec. i.-rhe truant officer shall keep
record of his transactions for the in
'pection of the school boards of such
titles. and suitable blanks shall be pro
iided for his use by the state superin-
endcnt.
See. 5.-Any person having control of
child who, with intent to evade the
provisions of this act, shall make
vifully false statement concerning the
'ge of such child, or the time such
hid has attended school, shall forfeit
or each oiIensc sum not less than IS
Tor more than $50 for the use of the
public schools for such city.