Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-02-16
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS NOTES.
Items of Interest Concerning the City
Schools, Reported by the Super
intendent.

various times, by patrons to children
who apparently are not in school
; attendance either in the public or
private schools. We have seen a
number of children from time to
time who evidently are of school
age but are not in school for some
reason. The compulsory school law
juvenile court law and dependency
: law are very wholesome ones and
no doubt were passed with the idea
that school authorities and other
officials would see that they were en-
forced. We have made somewhat OF
a study of these laws within the past
year and have upwards of 25 let
ters and reports from district judg-
es who are making attempts to
bring some good to scores of boys
and girls through these agencies. In
number of instances parents have
been called into court and fined for
failing to keep children in school
and within bounds of the law. 1t
is the purpose of the state in pass
ing these laws that the child shall
be protected and assured an oppor-
tunity of an education, and also to
save the state dollars in taxes which
will go to supporting reform
schools, asylums and charitable in
situations in the future. If space
and time permit we may quote from
these letters in some OF our future
communications.
The administration of the Juvenile
court and dependency law is left to
the Judge of the district court, who
may appoint a probation officer to
work is often done by good proba-
ton officer, leaving the judge as a
last resort for the cases needing spe-
cial action. For the information of
some who have inquired we will
quote a number of sections from
these laws, and parents who have
children who may come under the
descriptions given in these sections,
If any there be, may find profit in
perusing these sections. 1t should
be the spirit of every citizen to see
that these laws are used and cen
forced. t'sI
Sec. 254-a14. Terms defined:
&c he 49,
under the age of sixteen years, not
at the time inmates of state insti-
tuition or any industrial school for
boys or girls, or any institution in
corporated under the laws of the
state, and shall apply to all children
of said age, except such as are
charged with a commission of, Of
lenses punishable under the laws of
the state with life imprisonment, or
with the penalty of death. For the
purpose of this act, the words ,"de-
pendent children" or neglected
children" shall mean any child who
for any reason is destitute or home
less or abandoned; or dependent
upon the public for support; or,who
has not the proper parental care or
guardianship; or who habitually
begs Or receives aims; or who is
found living in any house of i'll
fame, or with anw vicious or. dis
reputable person; or whose home,
by reason of neglect, cruelty or de-
pravlty on the part of it's parents
or guardians or other person in
whose care it may be, is an unfit
place for such child; and any child
under the age of ten years, who is
found begging, or giving any public
entertainment upon the streets for
pecuniary gain for self or another;
or who accompanies or is used in aid
OF any person so doing; or who by
reason of other vicious, base or cor
rupting surroundings, is in the
opinion of the court, within the
spirit of the act. The words "de-
linquent child" shall include any
child under the age of sixteen years,
who violates any law Oh this state, or
any city or village ordinance; or
who is incorrigible; or who know
ingly associates with thieves, vicious
or immoral persons, or who is grow
ing up in idleness or crime; or who
knowingly frequents house of i'll
tame; or who patronizes any policy
/ hobiIudIy WdHucTS ABOUT any rail-
shop or place where any gaming de-
wise is, or shall be operated; Or who
road yards Or tracks, gets upon any
moving train or enters any car or
engine without lawful authority.
Sec. 254-a25. Support of Child:
In any case in which the court
shall find child dependent, neg
lected or delinquent, it may in the
same or subsequent proceedings,
upon the parents of said child or
either of them being duly summoned
or voluntarily appearing, proceed to
inquire into the ability of such par
ents to support the child or to con-
tribute thereto. and if the court
shall find such parent or parents
able to support the child or to con-
tribute to its support, the court may
enter such order or decree as shall
be according to equity in the prem
ises, and may enforce the same by
execution-or in any way in which
a court of equity may enforce its
orders or DEGREES.
COntributOry Dependency Law.
Chapter IA, Sec. L1-When any
child is found to be dependent or
neglected, as defined by section
254-a14 of the 1907 supplement- to
the code, the parent, parents, per-
son or other persons having the
| care, custody or control of ouob