The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-09-01
CHILDREN MUST ATTEND
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL

j.. E. Clark. Territorial Superintend-
ent of Public Instruction. has issued
the following letter, indicating that
the compulsory school law will he
strictly enforced:
Gentlemen:-This is to call your at
teation TO the compulsory education
law found in Section 155. Compiled
ter 80. laws of 1903, and chapter 121
of the laws of 1909. This law re-
quires the boards of chool directors
to compel parents, guardians and 9th
er persons having the control and
care of children etwee the ages of
seven and fourteen years to e. such
children to school during the entire
time tina the school is in session in
their respective school districts. At
tendance upon denomination school
is accepted under the law in lieu OF
attendance upon the public schools
and children of physical or mental
disability such as to unfit them for
school attendance, as well as children
who live more than three miles from
the public schools are not required TO
attend. Parents or guardians failing
to comply with this law shall be
punished upon conviction by a fine OF
rot less thar five dollars nor more
than twenty-five dollars or by inn
prisonment in h county Jail not
more than ten days" The following
steps of procedure under this law are
suggested:
First. Clerks of boards of school
directors should post or publish no
tees at once as provided in the act.
See section 1855, compiled laws of
1897. The following form of notice
Is suggested:
Notice to Parents or Guardians Of
Children of Compulsory School Age.
Section 1855, compiled laws of 1897.
as amended:
The school directors or board of any
school district, town or city in this
territory are hereby empowered and
required to compel parents. guard
lans, or other persons having the con-
trol, care or direction of children,
when such children do not attend
some private or UNCONVENTIONAL school
TO send such children under their con-
troll TO the public school during the
entire time such school is in session
in each scholastic ear in their re-
spective school communities, except
hat children referred to in this act
shall not be less than sever nor more
han fourteen years of age, or of such
physical disability as to unfit them
for school duties, which disability
shall be certified to by some regular
practicing physician: Provided that
the private or denominations school
shall be equal in its teaching to the
public school of the district; and pro-
vided, further. that this section shall
not apply TO children who live more
thar three miles from a public school.
Any parent, guardian or other per
sons having the control of children
and who shall fail or refuse to send
sue children to school as required by
this act, after the clerk of the school
district or the clerk of any town or
city SCHOOL DOdTu SHAH lave gwen pup
lie notice containing the substance Of
this act, written or printed in both
English n Spanish. by posting same
in some conspicuous place at three
separate points within the district. or
publishing the same in some news
paper within the district, shall he
punished upon conviction thereof by
a fine of not less than SIS nor more
$25. or by imprisonment for not
more than ten days In any county jail.
County superintendent are hereby |
with general supervisory pow
ers in this matter and shall require |
directors to comply with the provi- |
sions of the preceding section: n II
be the duty of the presiding
Judge OF the district court to give, at
cash session of the court. the sub
of the law as a special charge |
to their respective grand juries. and 1t
Is made the duty of the district attor
neys to give particular heed to the
of cases growing out Of
OF this act; and all mes 30
collected for the violation Of this act
shall be paid into the county treasury