Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-09-07
COMPULSORY SCHOOL LAW.

As ths time Is now here for the
opening of all the public schools,
urban and rural, The Eagle believes
Z resume of the compulsory school
attendance law passed by the last
Legislature would prove Of general
interest.
The compulsory school attendance
law, which becomes effective this
month. provides that all children be-
tween the ages of and IA years
must attend school not less than go
days this scholastic year; not less
than so days next year; not less than
100 days in any years thereafter. Chill
dren living more than two and one
half mile from q school building by
the most practical road; children who
are IN attendance upon private or
parochial school or under the care Of
. competent white tutor; children
over IL years of age who have salts
factorily completed four grades Of
work In q classified school and whose
labor IL absolutely needed for the
care Of dependent father or mother;
children who are physically or men,
tally subnormal. are exceptions.
The law fixes penalties against
parents or persons standing in the
parental relation, TO the child requir.
Cd to attend school II such persons
fail to send the child to school as
provided by the law
The penalty for the first offense is
IS. for the second offense $40 and for
the third and subsequent offenses s25
Each days absence OF the child may
be construed as a separate offense.
No person or firm employing labor
may employ child required by Law
TO attend school. The penalty Is SIC
for each offense and each day shall
constitute separate offense. AL
fines are payable into the available
school fund Of the district in which
the offense may occur.
Any parent required by law to sent
his child to school who Is unable e
supply the necessary text books, may
make application for free text books
The application must be approved by
the trustee and forwarded TO III,
county superintendent. who will pur
chase the necessary books and rem
der the bill TO the commissioners
court TO be paid out OF the genera
fund OF the county.
Under the ftad Of incorrigibilit,
and habitual truancy the law say
that. after three unexcused absences
or In case OF incorrigibility. tn
teacher is to report the child to III,
attendance officer to be brought be
fore the juvenile court for trial an,
punishment.
The child Ia entitled to n parole 70
the first and second offenses.
The third time In court. however
means n term In the juvenile trainin
school Mt Gatesville In case OF DO
and term IN the girls trainin
school at Gainesville In the case OF
girl.
In Texas. according TO the last fec
eral census, there we're 2s2.si0 pei
sons 10 years OF age and over VIII
were unable TO read and write, and Q
whom 157.sse we're whites. This
one OF the conditions the compulsor
attendance law Is expected TO reliev,
20 q great extent at least, In the ne,
few years.
The scholastic population OF Texa
this year Ia 100000 approximate,
Last year only $4,000 children el
rolled In the public schools.
every 100 children enrolled In u
year 1913 and 1894. according TO N
records Of the department Of educ
ton. a were absent from scho
daily. The attendance Of negro chi
drcn was 81 per cent. as compare
with 60 per cent for the white chi
drcn OF the state.
Enforcement Of the new law Ia @
pected 20 Increase the average scho'
attendance the coming school yes
10000. which means the building
more school houses and providin
moro seats In buildings. already
use. From 1000 to 5000 extra teacl
ers win be required TO care for IN
Increased number OF pupils enrolled