The Detroit times., 1910-12-15
CHILDREN OF POOR
To Be KEPT IN
SCHOOL
Legislation Planned To Authorize Re-
imbursing of Parents From Public
Funds for Loss of Earnings of
Offspring,
State Federation of Women's Clubs
Behind Movement and Is Waging
Lively Campaign.

Important legislation affecting tn'
educational interests OF children o
INDECENT people OF the state OF Michi
gan Will be sought by the Michigan
State Federation OF Women's CLUBS
during the coming session OF the leg
islature. The proposed law, in effect
provides that boards OF educator
shall pay to parents, who need finan
cial help from their children, Ger
tain amount of money per week. Sc
that the children may be enabled t'
attend school. A bill has been draft
ed by the legislative committee al
the Michigan State Federation o
Womens clubs in regards TO the mat
ter. The bill follows:
Section l. When any truant
officer is satisfied that any child,
compelled TO attend school, by
the provisions OF law, is unable
TO attend school because abso-
lutely required to work al home
or elsewhere, in order TO support
himself, or help support or care
for others legally entitled TO his
or her services, who are unable
TO support or care for themselves,
the truant officer shall report the
case 10 the board OF education
and such board shall be authoiz-
ed to and may afford such relief
as will enable the child to attend
school during the entire school
year In all cases where relief 10
necessary. shall be authorized TO
and may in their discretion fur
nish with other necessary help
OF support the necessary text
books free of charge
Section 2 Not more than three
dollars per week during he
school year shall be paid by the
school board per child. nor more
than six dollars per week for
children of any one family, for
the purpose of this act as ex-
pressed in section one hereof.
Said moneys shall be paid in the
same manner and out of the same
funds as are the current eX-
penses for the maintenance OF
public schools
Section g. II shall be the duty
OF truant officer in any district
where a child Is receiving aid
under this act to disburse the
funds herein provided for, and to
investigate the environment OF
the child, and TO make an item
lied report monthly to the school
board of the funds expended, and
the use to which same was put.
The truant officer shall notify the
teacher to whom any child may
be assigned receiving aid under
the provisions OF this act, of this
fact. Said truant officer shall re-
ceive the same compensation for
the time so engaged as he re-
ceves for the discharge OF his
other duties under the law, and
shall be paid in the same man
ner.
Section T. II shall be the duty
OF the teacher having charge of
any child, receiving aid under the
provisions of this act, to report
monthly to the school board the
progress the child is making in
its school work, and the record OF
attendance together with such
other information as may be
deemed necessary.
II has been suggested to the pro
moters of the bill that Juvenile court
judges, instead OF truant officers,
exercise the authority vested in the
truant officers in regard to the pen
sion system, wherever juvenile
courts exist. The judgment of the
Juvenile court judges would be less
liable to question in such cases than
that of truant officers, ii is argued.
This is a matter of detail, however,
which can be attended to without
causing any delay in the promotion
of the bill for enactment the NOV
ers in the undertaking explain.
A similar law is in force in Ohio
and is said to be proving satisfac-
tory and inexpensive, considering the
benefits derived from it.
Kate V. English, chairman of the
legislative committee OF the Michigan
State Federation of Womens clubs
is sending out copy of the bill to
the different branches of the fedora
ton in Michigan. with suggestions
that they carefully investigate the
school conditions affecting the bill
in their own localities. The bill is
now in The hands of the Detroit
branch and will be given every con
sideratiOn