Milford chronicle., 1907-05-24
AM ACT
To Compel the Attendance of Children
at the Public Schools of the State.

6ly met:
Section I. That following the approval {
this Act every parent, guardian or other pei
son in this State having control Of a child o
children between the ages Of seven and foul
teen years shall be required to sesd such chill
or children to a day school. in which the com
mon English branches are taught; and sucl
child or children shall attend such schOo
continuously for at least five months eacl
year during the time in which the publ,
school in their respective districts shall be IL
session, beginning not less than one month
after the opening OF said school, unless suct
child or children shall be excused from such
attendance by the Com missioners OF the
School District in which the parent guardian
or other person resides upon the presentation
to said Commissioners Of satisfactory evil
dence showing such child or children are
prevented from attendance upon school or
application to study by mental, physical or
other urgent reasons, and such excuse must
be cOuntersigned by the County Supernten
dent Of the County in which such district is
located; but the urgent reasons shall be
strictly construed and shall not permit Of r.
regular attendance.
Provided that each school district shall
have power each year at its regular annual
meeting to reduce the period OF compulsory
which csse the school meeting must at that
date fix a time for compulsory attendance to
begin, but such date shall not be later than
January End, of each school year. Provided
that in case there be no public school in ses
sion within two miles by the nearest Travelled
road OF any person within the school district,
he or she shall not be liable to the provisions
of this Act, unless free conveyance is pro-
vided
Provided, that this Act shall not apply to
any child that has been or is being otherwise |
instructed in English in the common branches |
OF learning for like period OF time in any |
private school, or by any legally qualified
gOverness or private teacher in a family. or !
by any other means which shall be approved ]
by the County Superintendent Of the proper /
coHnty.
Provided further, that any principal or
teacher OF any private school or educatioeal
institution shall report non-attendance as
provided in Section of this Act. And pro-
vided also that the certificate of any principal
or teacher of private school or Of any insti-
tuition for the education of children in which
the common English branches are taught. set.
ting forth that the work OF aid school is in
compliance with the provisions of this Act.
shall be sufficient and satisfactory evidence
thereof, and the principal or teacher of said
school or institution shall have The power to
excuse any child or children for noR-atten-
dance during temporary periods in accord {
ance with the provisions OF this Act ,
Section 2. That for every neglect of duty {
imposed by the hrst section Of this Act, the I
principal or teacher or person in parental re- T
lation, offending, shall be guilty Of misde >
meanor, and SHALL upon conviction thereof q
before a justice of the peace magistrate or r
alderman, forfeit fine not exceeding two 4
dollars On first cOhvietiOn, and fine not ex- II
ceeding five dollars for each subsequent con- s
viction, and in default OF payment OF said fine,
the defendant may be committed to the a
county prison for period not exceeding two a
days for the first conviction, and for period n
not exceeding five days for each subsequent nj
conviction Provided upon conviction the
defendant or defendants may appeal to the 81
Court Of General Sessions of the proper county vi
within fifteen days, upsn entering into recog- II
nizance with one surety for the amount Of in
fines and costs. Provided, however, that be- sb
fore such action shall be brought for any of N,
the aforesaid penalties, the parent, guardian ar
or other person liable therefor, shall be noti-
fed in writing by the County Superintendent 70
Of Schools, or such person as he shall designate h
OF such liability, and shall have opportunity. Cc
by compliance with the requirements of this g.,
Act within three school days then and there A,
after 10 avoid the imposition Of such peHally. 90
The mailing OF such notice to the usual ad- tro
dress Of offending party shall be deemed suffi- no
cent under this Act But after such notice g.,
has been given, If the same child is absent Ge
from school three days or their equivalent in az,
time during the remaining period OF compul- ,v,
sorry attendance without excuse provided co,
by Section l Of this Act, the parent guardian :
In fol
prosecution under this Act without further aiv
notice. -,
The fines provided for by this Act, shall Wis
when collected, be paid over by the officers to
the same, to the treasurer or clerk the
If the school committee or board of the re- ,loc
pective districts for the use Of the school S
district In which such person convicted cur
esides, TO be applied and accounted for by and
uch treasurers or clerk in the same way as upC
,ther moneys raised for school purposes tioi
uch fines shall be collected by process OF 81
aw similar TO the collection OF other fines OF
Section 8. Boards Of education and school dist
ommittees may, in all districts, employ one ers
more persons to be known as "attendance COU
hcers" ;" whose duty shall be, in addition to con
be duties provided elsewhere in this Act, to Sch
lOk after, apprehend and arrest without
Tarrant truants and others who fail to at
end school in accordance with the provis. Be
ms Of this Act. When an attendance officer sig
rrests or apprehends any truant or other
arson, as herein set forth. he shall have
over Immediately to place him or her in
ie school in which he or she is or should be
lrolled, or at the expense Of the parent. I
lardian or person in parental relation, in -
ich private school as provided by Section / "'o
this Act, as the parent guardian or person poI
parental relation may select. And in case locl
e parent, guardian or person in parental re- wit
tion shall refuse or neglect Immediately to Pol
lect such school, the school commissioners Per
secretary for school commissioners shall app
We lul power 10 designate the school in this
llon l,'l tne n olI,u s-..,.s snai pe piaeeu. the
,ae.s ~ shoI ho an,,,,ss . SUN 4s.snuanee acti
! as sbalI he fired bv tbs Rosrds ar.., Pol
PPSin'- ate