Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-01
COMPULSORY EDUCATION
ACT IS NOW IN EFFECT
Penalties for Parents or Guardians
Who Fail to Send Children
to School.
OTHER SCHOOL LEGISLATION
Commission Created to Study School
System, Laws and Conditions to
Make Report to Next Session OF
the General Assembly.

Make Report to Next Session of
the General Assembly.
The compulsory education act of the
Virginia General Assembly, passed at
! Its last session. has just become a law.
and VIII be enforced beginning with
the new school term this fall The
law provides in certain cases for the
compulsory attendance of children
between the ages Of eight and twelve
years. and penalties are provided for
failure TO attend school. Every parent
or guardian is required to send such a
child to school at least sixteen weeks
In each school year. which attendance
commences at the beginning of the
school year and shall be as nearly CON
tinuous as possible.
The district school boards shall.
within fifteen days after the schools
open. ascertain tho condition Of the
children between these ages who are
not attending school. and report such
cases to the division superintendent.
who will at once prosecute each and
every offensc. 4 child weak In mind
or bofy. or able to read and write or
IN attendance upon private school.
or who lives more than two miles from
a public school or one mile from
wagon route. is exempted from the
operation of the law.
PARENTS Or GUARDIANS
ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE
dent shall make complaint before
justice OF the peace or police justice
OF the district or city in which said
parent or guardian resides. or in the
Corporation or Circuit Court of the city
or county. Noncompliance with the
provisions of this act is nisdcmcanor
and the parent or guardian is liable TO
a fine not exceeding 500 for each of
Tense. 1t IS provided that the clerl.
in each district shall report 10 the
superintendent every offense against
the act when member of the dis
trict school board or any citizen Of the
district files with him an affidavit set
ting forth the offense. and IL the said
clerk neglect so to report within fifteen
days after such affidavit is flied. he
shall I've liable to fine of not less
than IS nor more than $40 for each
case of neglect.
Two weeks attendance at half-time
or evening schools shall be considered
the equivalent of one weeks attend
ance a day schools. The school board
OF any city shall have the right to
appoint truant or attendance officer
to perform the duties required under
the act OF tho clerk of tho district
board and the division superintendent.
DIGEST PREPARED OF
NEW SCHOOL LAWS
Several important laws designed
for more efficient school system in
Virginia were passed by the last Gen
eral Assembly. They became laws
several days aGo-nincty days after the
final adjournment OF the legislature
and will be enforced beginning with the
lolS-l9l9 school year. School authori-
ties have just prepared digest OF
this legislation. which has been sent
to division superintendent and others.
No longer will children be forced TO
pay tolls for tho use of roads while on
their way 10 school. The law pro-
vides that any pupil may receive from
the school superintendent a card GER
tIfying that he is regular pupil in
the school. which will be accepted by
the keeper Of the toll gate in lieu OF
charges. The State Board of Educa-
ton is designated as the State Board
for Focationa! Education. and is au-
thor!Zcd to provide proper supervision
and management over this branch of
education.
County supervisors arc authorized by
another act to make direct appropr!-
lcvics for county purposes to provide
for school nurse and the inspection
Of school children. The nurse or ply
stefan must he approved by the State
Board of Health.
Other school legislation Is as follows
the Hughes bill. by which tho
State receives Federal appropriations
for salaries of teachers and directors
of agricultural subjects. industrial sub
jects and the maintenance of teacher
training.
AppropriatinE $4,000 to build a cot
tage for tuberculosis teachers at Ca
tawba.
COMMISSION CREATED
TO STUDY SCHOOL SYSTEM
Creating a commission to study the
school system, laws and conditions to
report at the next session of the Cen
cral Assembly, The commission will
consist of two members OF the House
OF Delegates. two members of the Sen
ate. the Superintendent of Public In
struction. and three persons. one
woman. now connected with the free
public school system.
Providing revenue for the support of
the government. carrying a special S.
cent levy. cents of which is for the
school system. The particular section
OF the act referring TO the AGENT tax
for schools provides that the fund de-
rived from said tax shall be applied
schools of the primary and grammar
grades. from the first 10 the seventh
grades. inclusive. to secure longer
school term and increased compensa-
ton for teachers of such schools, for
the equal benefit of all the people OF
the State, to be apportioned on the
basis of school population. the number
of children between the ages of seven