The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-21
PARENT TO BLAME
Truancy Problems Should Be
Solved in Homes.
Judge Sehoeh Gives Weak
Points in Education.
COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN HELP.
Prosecute Cases at Beginning
of School Year.
'sBoys That Don't Attend
School Not Bad"
COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN HELP

the
The compulsory education law is
weak in places
Topeka men work hardship on chill
dren seeking employment through the
fear that their business is a danger
Gus occupation"
Because a boy refuses to attend
school is no sign that he IS q bad
boy.
There is a way to prevent truancy.-
Probate Judge W. F. Schoch.
The desire to protect their children
from the wrath of the court, rather
than to teach them that the court is
their friend is largely responsible for
the truancy problem in cities, accord
ing to W. F. Schoch, probate judge,
after observing truancy cases and the
delinquency of children for four years
And in some cases, the judge declares,
children are encouraged in truancy by
the parents. The juvenile officers are
compelled to turn to the teachers of
the city for the assistance which
should be rendered by the parents
Il believe that if the county attor-
ney would issue % warrants and pros
ecute % cases at the beginning of ev-
cry school term there would be no
such thing as truancy,'' said Judge
Schoch. There might be a few cases
after the weather grew pleasant in the
spring But the truancy business
would not assume the Importance that
it now holds
The Judge believes that most chill
dren are of the good kind, and that
if parents did their duty there would
be little calls for juvenile courts and
officers. But parents do not In many
cases they do not care whether the
child attends school or idles away his
time on the streets
Parents Fear Punishment.
In others the parents know the
child is doing wrong but hesitate to
report this fact to the probate court
fearing severe punishment In the
minds of many there is fear OF
courts that amounts to a belief that
whoever applies for relief is not prop
erIy treated. Thus truancy is punish
ed at home or not punished at all And
all the information which reaches the
juvenile officers are that the boy is
out of school.
Then of course an investigation is
made but in many cases the parents
interfere in every possible way with
the men doing this work They fear
for the child as well as themselves
in some cases and in others the judge
believes that the inherent "cussed~
ness of the human race is merely
made manifest
In one case which is not recored in
Shawnee county because no action
came before the court, but which is
true neVertheles"two boys played
hockey for six months, finishing out
an entire term of school without being
in attendance.
The mother was dead and the father !
''batched' with his boys After being |
in school little more than two months |
hey began playing truant The teach |
er notified the father by pushing a |
written notice under the door of the |
house occupied by the family. On
every occasion the youngsters were
nome ahead Of their father and de-
;troyed the note
This was kept up the entire year
Ind was discovered through an uncle
# the boys. The father sent his sons
o spend the summer with this uncle
ind the boys took a great fancy to
lin. They told him of the great Joke
hey had played on their father and
he uncle, seeking their best interests,
the confidence the boys re-
posed in him. The next year the
ather arranged for a daily personal
eport as to their attendance in school
md the youngsters probably do not
now now how the change happened
o be made.
Don't Compel Children to Attend.
Il do not believe that every child
houId be compelled by law to attend
chool as is now the CASE Judge
choch declared. Il have seen cases
there a child had bad eyes and was
ompelled to remain in school rather
han stop and rest the diseased organs.
also know of cases where the law
'orked a hardship upon widowed
lothers. In fact at one time violated
he law myself for the good of a child.
This boy would not go to school.
lie would stay at home and work, or
-ork anywhere else But go to school
e would not I did everything but
end that boy to the reform school.
nd at the time I mention it was up
, me to do that. He had no bad hab-
: or companions
Did I send that boy 20 the reform ]
ehool? Hardly His father found him
place On a farm near Topeka. and we
[ the statutes go hang themselves /.
nd gave the boy chance. He made
pod and is now growing into a useful, 7
dustrious man.
Business Men Could Help.
The tirnidity of business men regard
g their own occupations also works a =
ardship on needy boys and girls, the i
dge believes The law provides that
lder a certain age they shall not be
nployed at dangerous occupations
hen it fails to state what constitutes -
dangerous occupation in the way that
lows the Iayman to know exactly how
his business is As a result
dustrious boys and girls are dis
arged in many cases as soon a their