The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-11-14
EDUCATIONAL.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

sary in order to accomplish any task.
The apprentice had to work at his trade
until he had mastered it. Working a
day now and then was not tolerated. In
like manner in order to get the most out
OF school it is necessary that pupils be
present every day.
This needs no argument No child
can keep up with the rest of the class
who is absent when the others are work,
ing. If your servant is away he can not
do the work you wish him to do Like
wise the pupil who is absent must get
behind in his work
Parents who keep their children ont
of school without cause should remem-
ber, first of all that they are robbing
their children of something which these
children will need to have when they
grow up. They should remember, also
that they are robbing the neighbors'
children who do attend regularly, rs the
whole class is kept back by those who
are irregular in attendance. Every
child is entitled to common school ed
ucation and none of us has a right to
take it from him.
We all recognize that self defense is a
right possessed by all individuals. But
the state has also this right Among the
worst enemies to the state is ignorance.
Therefore the state has right to insist
that all of her citizens shall get the ru.
diments of an education. As a means
to carry out this plan the state compels
the parents to send their children to
school. Every person who is patriot
will gladly do this without compulson
as he recognizes that his child needs
this education in order to fulfill intelli-
gently his duties ~ n citizen.
1t is to be lamented that compulsory
attendance law is necessary. Should
not every one of us do what we can both
for our children and our country The
large majority do this and for them nc
law is necessary, 1t is only to parents
who because of seltishness or for some
other reason neglect their duty, that the
state must speak harshly. The state
cannot afford ana dare not let such
children grow up in Ignorance. For
such "A compulsory law must be made.
Self protection demands it.
The compulsory attendance law oi
Wisconsin was amended by the last leg
islature and regard it my duty To dc
all | can to make this fact known. The
following synopsis taken from this
years Annual gives its chief provisions
COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Chapter ii6 Laws of 1907 cannot be
given in full here but its main provisions
are M follows:
Cd Children between the ages of 7 and
II years and also those between II and
III who are not regularly and lawfully
employed in any useful employment OF
some public, parochlal, or private school
regularly ut least y months in cities, and
6 months in villages and country dis
tricts GO days to the month";.
t2) Children coming under the law
shall be enrolled within one schoo
month after the commencement of ths
school term in the district in which sucl
children reside.
(3) The law does not apply to child
dren (a) who are not in proper physica
and mental condition to attend schoo'
who shall present the certificate of q
reputable physician in general practice
to that effect; (bl who live more thar
two miles by the nearest travelled road
from the school house in which such
child resides unless transportation /,
furnished) (c) who have completed the
course of study for the common schools
and can furnish the proper diploma oi
its equivalent; I'D who receive instruc
| tion mt home or elsewhere, such instruc
| ton being AT least substantially equiva
lent 70 instruction given to children al
school
(i) Penalty for violation, upon convic
ton, shall be (a) a fine Of not less thar
five or more than fifty dollars, together
with cost of prosecution; tbl imprison
ment in the county Jail not exceeding
three months (C) both such fine and i'm
prsonment in the discretion of the court
for each offense.
(5) 1t is the duty of the district mt
torney to prosecute in the name of tn,
state all violations. 90 If the paren
plead that he is unable to compel III,
child to go to school, the child shall! b,
proceeded against IA incorrgible
~ In cities having population o
more than 20O0 except cities of the frs
class the board of education shall ap
| point one or more truant officers In
cities of le5s than 2OOO and in towns ant
in towns and villages. the sheriff, under
sheriff and deputies are truant officers
1t is the duty of MI truant officers to en-
force the provisions of this act.
(s) The school clerk shall make ou
three copies of the census report anC
send one to the county superintendent
on or before the 18th day of July, an,
give one TO the teacher Tor principal u
the time school opens. He keeps th
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