Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-05-22
IOWA'S SCHOOL LAWS.
SUPT. HOOK WRITES TO SCHOOL OFF,
GERS AND PATRONS.
A Letter Concerning the Duties Of Parents
and School Officers With Reference to
Public Schools, Which Should be
Read by Every Citizen.

Winnesheik County:
have recently been making an in
vestigation of the conditions prevail
ing in. the schools of the county with
reference to attendance of pupils, the
condition of the school grounds with
reference to the number of shade trees
upon the grounds, and the condition
of the out buildings as to their
wholesome condition. as required
by the laws. l have felt that these
things needed special attention for
some time, and L take this means of
bringing prominently to the attention
of the people and school officers the
conditions in general upon the above
mentioned points.
fully appreciate that the greatest
factor of all in making good
school is good teacher, and the time
will never be when any or all things
else can serve as a substitute for the
good teacher, but it is highly i'm
portant that We attempt to do all we
can to help along the work of the
teachers in the schools, and the
things | have just mentioned above
are among the most important to be
attended TO. now.
A Statement Of What the Law Requires as
to Attendance. Planting Out Trees. and
as to Character and Condition Of
Out.Buildings and Fenc-
ing Grounds.
1t seems proper TO cite clearly the
requirements of the law with refer
ence to attendance of pupils, planting
out and protecting shade trees, and, as
TO the character and condition of out
buildings. and fencing of grounds be-
fore | state the results of my recent
Investigations.
Section l of Chaper 1928, Acts of
the Twenty ninth General Assembly
says as to Attendance of pupils:
Sec. L. Duties of parents or guard
ians-penalty. Any person having
control Of any child of the age of
seven ca TO fourteen Q4) years in.
elusive, in proper physical and men,
tai condition to attend school, shall
eanse such child to attend some pub
lie. private or parochial school, where
the common school branches of read
ing, writing, spelling, arithmetic,
grammar, geography, physiology, and
United States history are taught, OF
TO attend upon equivalent instruction
by competent teacher elsewhere
than school, for at least sixteen U6)
consecutive school weeks in each
school year. commencing with the
first week of school after the first day
of September unless the board of
school.directors shall determine upon
later date which date shall not be
later than the first Monday in Decem
Der. Provided. that this section shall
not apply TO any child who lives more
than two (2) miles from any school
by the nearest travelled road except in
'h'p'N AiStiiN'S III Nultil lHt
are transported at public expense. or
who is excused for sufficient reasons
by anyscourt of record or Judge there
OF. Any person who shall violate the
provisions of this section shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall pay fine of
lacc tlan ~
more than twenty ($20) dollars, for
each offense.
1t seems also appropriate that the
duties of teachers. school officers and
Others should be stated in this connec-
ton Section of the foregoing
chapter says,
Ser. T. Teachers and school Off
cers--duties All teachers of the pub.
lie schools of the state. and county
superintendent, and school officers
and employees shall promptly report
TO the secretary of the school corpora
tion any violations of the provisions
of this act, of which they have know
ledge or information. and he shall
promptly inform the president of the
board of directors thereof and such
president shall if necessary. call
meeting of the board of directors to
take such action thereon as the facts
shall Justify, and any child placed
in any trunnt school may be dis
charged therefrom at the discretion
of the board, upon sufficient assur-
ance of the future good conduct of
such child.
From the foregoing citations il will
be seen that a conscientious perform
ance Of duty by teachers and school
officers would result in much more
regular attendance of pupils enrolled
and consequently much larger re-
turn for the money paid out for main
tanning the schools.
An extreme case came to my atten-
ton recently when examining
teachers register. A boy nine years
old in her school had attended but
FOUR DAYS during the winter and