East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-18

The fact that Oregon has a compul-
sorry school law was again brought to
light this morning when three tru-
ancy complaints reached the county
superintendent office from the east
end of the county. All three COM
plants were made by George CAL
houn, teacher in district No. TO- Fern
dale. The children not attending
school are John McCauslln, aged 12;
Saintie Smith, aged 10, and Sam and
Eugene Berry, aged 10 and 1S re-
spectively.
Under the law the parents or guar
dians of children are criminally liza
BILE for not sending children to school
and presumably the cases against the
guardians of the above children will
be prosecuted unless they speedily
comply with the law.
The following is a summary of the
compulsory school law, prepared by
Superintendent Welles:
Summary of Law.
As soon as the school opens, the
district clerk must give to the teacher
revised copy of his last census re-
port, showing the name and age of
every child. and the name and address
of each child's father or guardian. 1t
is necessary for the teacher to have
this information in order to comply
with the compulsory education law.
IL, ha ttfn trl,A l,ag
reached the age of years, must at
tend school regularly during the
whole time the school Is in session.
After the child reaches the age of IA
years no is not required to attend,
provided he is regularly and lawfully
engaged in some useful employment.
If not so employed. he must attend
until he becomes 16 years of age.
In Rule XLIV, page 167, of the
School Laws of 1907, teachers are au-
thorized to require from parents,
either in person or by written note, in
all cases of absence or tardineSs, or
dismissal before the close of school.
Section 1914 of the same law provides
that the teacher must count all unex-
cused absences, and that no excuse
shall be accepted except sickness of
the pupil, or of some member of the
pupils family which makes attend
ance impossible.
The compulsory law does not apply
to eighth grade graduates, or to chill
dren who are attending some other
school regularly. 1t does not apply
to children between and 10 years of |
age If they live more than one and |
one-half miles from school. nor to |
older children, if they live more than |
three miles from school by the nearest |
travelled road. At the beginning of |
the term and every four weeks there
after the teacher must compare the |
names of the children on the register
with those on the clerks report and |
If the census shows that there are
children who are not attending school
in the district, whose age is years
or over. and under 16 years, the
teacher should carefully inquire into
hte cause of such non-attendance. If |
at this time, or at any other time dur
ing the term, the truancy of any child
in the aggregate to more
than seven half days during any four
Or less number of consecutive weeks,
he teacher must Immediately report
he truancy Of such child.
When truancy is reported, the dis
rict boundary board will send an or
Ter to the truant officer to investigate
he case. A copy of this order will
je sent to the teacher. If, after in |
the truant officer finds
hat the law has been violated, he will 4
end a letter to the father or guardian
~ registered mail ordering him to
tart the child to school on the fol-
owing Monday morning. He will al
% send a copy of this letter to the
eacher, and If the child does not start
o school on the day named, the
eacher must Immediately report the
act to the truant officer so that he
nay bring action against the parent
r guardian.
In the administration of this law it
5 the duty of district clerks and di-
ectors to give such information and
ssistance as they may be able to
i've, and any teacher, director, clerk,
r other officer who neglects to per-
orm his duty may upon complaint of
ny parent or taxpayer in the district
e arrested and fined from IS to 500.
ee page 81, School Laws of 1907.