Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1905-10-06
EDUCATIONAL NOTES.
Nv state Supt. W. r. Darlington.

of Missouri is ten per cent greater than
last year. It. is believed that the average
attendance for the year will be twenty
per cent greater, due largely TO the new
attendance law.
Never before in the history Of the state
were teachers and school officers in such
good spirits on account OF the school Sit
cation. Missouri has better school
buiidiags, better teachers, better school
organization, better school Libraries and
other school help, and above all else
more prompt and regular attendance.
There are eleven county teachers asso-
Citations being held the first week in Oc-
,pber. Under arrangements made by
State Supt. Darlington, representatives
from the state department of education
will conduct the work il, the associations
of Camden, Greene and I.aclede COUP
ties; representatives of the Teachers
College, in Geatry, Macon and Texas
counties, representatives of kirkwood
Normal, il. Mercer and Monroe counties;
representatives Of Warrensburg Normal,
IN Johnson county; representatives of
Cape Girardeau Normal, in Mississippi
aud Perry counties.
County teachers associations we're
held during the month of September in
the following counties: Adair, Bollinger,
Buchanan, Butler, Cass Christian, Dade,
Dent, Dunklin, Madison, Maries, Rey-
nolds, Ripley, Shannon, fancy, Web
ster, Worth and Wright. The attend.
ance was excellent and reports indicate
Anusual interest in the problems dis
cnssed. The main discussions were on
the teachers preparation, the course Of
study, the school library, the teaching of
better English, and the compulsory at
tendance law.
The compulsory attendance law is
working we'll i'll all the large towns and
1iaes. In many Of the smaller cities,
school boards have appointed the city
marshal as truant officer. This works
well. In larger cities the police force is
called to the assistance of the special
truant officer. For some weeks after
opening Of school the judge of the juve-
nal court i'll Kansas City was kept busy
passing on excuses offered by parents
who thought tneir children should not
attend school. To the credit, of the
Judge, few secured them.
ATTENDANCE LAW.
There are many inquiries concerning
the enforcement of the compulsory at
tendance law. 4 few of them have been
answered by the State Superintendent as
o,ipws.
l.. The hoIne instruction given in lieu
Of the school must be regular and during
the usual school hours v erJday cqMvc
lent to the instruction given in school.
;. The court, n9.. the teacher, school
c.lr., or truant o!tlesr, may excuse. The
court nee- not excuse children on &C,
count OF their living IN miles from the
school. Ablc-bodicd, healthy children
so further than hat without considering
the hardship.
B. a child pay be excused BY a couy
If it cannot piQeure proper, clothing, bu'
not OIL account OF inability to buy books
The school board must. furaish books
1t il hoped that there. vii, he. a. charita
bic organization ineyers school distric
to Misunderstanding when necessary.
4. 1t is tLe duty ii the, attendance Off
Ger. or district clerk in a. district no
having stteudaaec officer, to, prosecute
parents who fail to comply with. .bs 10,
after due nctice has been given,.
s.. a parens who thinks he has . 200,
and sufficient excuse FOR n9sAsending hi
child to school shoald not wait to b
notified. He should secure, written. ex
cuse from Abe copft and have il ready /
present when, notified The law doe
NOT contemplate that court shall wait 70
prosecution SECURE, excuse and sto
lafc~sa.lSr..
-ss, OF pd u
wspe pa(oived at
.S.ls0!Voo