The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-09-14
TRUANT OFFICER NEEOE D
Too Many Youths Hanging About the
Streets When They Should Be
Studying Their Lessons.

pOrtant discussed Dy the DOafu Oh euu-
cation at its meeting last night, but
without result. Twenty-Five applications
had been received, nearly all from chill
dren fourteen and fifteen years of age
of foreign parentage residing in the
north part of the city. Nearly all are
at present employed in the knitting mill
Mr.. Fletcher urged that the children
should not be allowed to leave school at
that critical age and thus lose the great
advantages that little more education
will bring to them. He thought that
the board of education should know all
of the circumstances before it takes ac-
ton on the applications.
Tell Plausible Stories.
Mrs. Smith said that the stories told
by the children and their parents, of
how the money that they earn is needed
to help support the family, are often
very plausible.
Superintendent Mcconnell said that
many of school age are out of school
without permission; as anyone could tell
by walking on the streets. They are
driving delivery wagons, etc. A truant
officer is employed in many cities, and
where he has good backbone and some
brains he has accomplished great deal.
He looks into the needs of the families
tories, and upon his recommendation the
excuses are granted or refused.
Judge Comstock thought that the trl-
ant officer would be considerable, and
the regular police have their full time
all taken up He thought that in Man
kato the school board could attend to
this matter The board has the right
under the law to compel the attendance
at school of children up to sixteen years
of age in any event, and up to eighteen
if they are unemployed.
Mr. Mcconnell said that Faribault has
truant officer, and that every child
in the city is accounted for.
The list of names was read and two
or three of the applications were grant
ed, where members of the board knew
that there was necessity for it. The
members being in the dark as to the cir
cumstances surrounding the other eases,
it was voted, on motion of Judge Com
stock, that the applications be referred
back to the superintendent to use his
discretion until the board meets Friday
night In order to anticipate visit
from the state labor Inspector it will be
necessary to extend the permits or else
for the mill to discharge the children, as
it would be liable to fine for employing
them without permits.
improvements at Franklin.
Judge Comstock moved that the mat
ter of the proposed improvements at the
Franklin school building be taken from
the table, and this was carried.
Mr. Currier moved that the matter
of putting in heating plant and sew
erage at the building be referred to
Architect Pass witff<instrlctions to com
plete the plans and specifications, and
that the committee on property and ex-
pense be authorized to get bids for put
ting the same in, to be opened not later
than April lst. He said that the Fra1fk-
lin building is the only public school
building in the city without modern i'm
provcments, and he felt that the people
there were entitled to them. The finances
of the board would be in condition by
spring so that the improvements could
be undertaken. Unless action was taken
the new board would have to thresh the
matter all over again, which the old
board had done for two years past. The
motion was carried, all of the members
present voting for it except Mr. Fletcher,
who voted ''no."
Financial Reports.
The reports of the secretary and
treasurer for the year ending Aug 81
were presented. They were accepted and
referred to the finance committee to
audit and report upon at the meeting
of the board Friday evening.
The report of Treasurer Fletcher
shows the receipts of the current fund
to have been $3l,97S.92, and the ex-
penditmes $3O,74l.23, leaving a balance
on hand of ST ,23769. The receipts of the
special fund were $3,2656S, and the ex
penditures $2,9l6.l6, leaving a balance
of $349.52. The sinking fund remains
the same as year ago, with bal
ance of $S902, and the improvement
fund also remains the same having a