The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-11-03

enact:
Section /. Every parent. guardian or
other person in the state OF Michigan hav-
ing control and charge of any child or
children between and including the ages
OF seven and 10 years, shall be required to
send such child or children to the pub
lie schools during the entire school year,
and such attendance shall be consecu-
tive for the school year as fixed by the
district in which such parent, guardian
or other person in parental relation may
reside Provided, that in the following
cases children shall not be required to
attend the public schools:
(a) Any child or children who is or
are being taught in a private or paro-
chal school in such branches as are
usually taught in the first eight grades
of the public schools, or have already ac-
CURED the ordinary branches of learning
taught in such grades of the public
schools, to be determined by the school
board after an examination of such child
~! lliC lCdCItl III NhdlEts
tb) Any child or children who is or
are physically unable to attend school
In such cases the truant officers shall
require written statement of compe-
tent physician certifying that such child
or children is or are physically unable to
attend school;
(cA Childrop ovar fourtaap vaars of
age whose services are essential to the
support of their parents may be excused
from attendance at school on the recon-
mendation of the board of education of
the district IN which they reside, and
said board shall certify to the proper
officer the facts in all such cases;
I'D Children under nine years of age,
whose parents do not reside within two
and one-half miles, by the nearest travel
ed road, of some public school: Pro
vided, that if transportation is furnished
for pupils in said district then this ex.
emption shall not apply.
1t may be seen from the above that no
one has authority to excuse absence, ex-
cept for the causes or reasons therein
stated.
The law requires the director to fur
nish the teacher with a copy of the
school census at the opening of the
school For failure to do this, the di-
rector is liable to the penalty prescribed
for neglect of the duties of that Office
and removal from same by township
board
The teacher is required to compare
the census with the enrolment of
the school and report to the commits
sioner the names of all parents whose
children are not in regular attendance
at school For failure to do this, teach
ers are liable to suspension or annulment
of certificates
The commissioner is required TO re-
port all such cases TO the truant officer.
a deputy sheriff appointed for that
special purpose, who in turn is required
to investigate, and in cases not exempt
as above stated he must serve notice "to
the parent or other person having pa
rental relation of the date that attend
ance must begin aud that such attend
ance must be consecutive during the re-
mainder of the school year as taught in
that district For failure to perform
their duties as required, either OF the
above officers may be removed from of.
flee
In case the parents neglect or refuse
to comply with the requirements of the
notice the truant officer is required to
make complaint before a justice of the
peace, and the proceedings are thereaf-
ter in the usual form for cases in JUS
tices courts, the penalty being five to
fifty dollars fine, or two TO ninety days
Imprisonment or both. in the discretion
of the court
This law went into effect September
l6, and as soon as possible thereafter,
sent copy of the law to each teacher Of
the county, and with each copy the fol-
lowing letter.
Dear Teacher. 1t would seem advisa-
ble that each teacher visit the homes
where there are delinquents, kindly aud
courteousy acqualnt the parents with
the provisions of the law, and show that
the teachers, commissioner and deputy
sheriff MUST, not MAY, compel the attend
ance of such as do not attend voluntarily.
10 the majority of cases this will be SUI
ficient and will save much expense and
i'll feeling When it does not succeed
report at once without fear or favor.
Sincerely yours,
l.. A. AsELT1NE
In addition to this letter the comm,s-
sioner has called personally upon nearly
all the teachers of the county to empha-
size the need of personal investigation
before calling upon the truant officer
nd no, I