Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-23
BLIND AND De- AT
CHILDREN MUST Be
SENT TO SCHOOL
ILLINOIS LAW DRASTIC IN MAT.
TER-JUOGES AND PRoBATloR
OFFICERS MUST SEE THAT
CHILDREN ARE PROPERLY
TRAINED.

The Free Trader-Journal Is in re-
ceipt OF an order making II mandatory
FOR all blind children in the state 10
be educated In either public or pri.
yate Institution. copy of the law
and letter 10 the county officials
whose duty II is 10 see that these chill.
hren are educated sent out by the di-
rector OF the Department of Public
Welfare. Is published below.
The Letter.
To Judges OF County Courts. States
Attorneys. Truant Officers. Boards OF
Education, Superintendent, of City or
County Schools;
We desire TO call your attention 10
the act OF the last General Assembly
making Il mandatory upon you 10 see
that blind or deaf children OF your
community are sent TO school, pub.
lie or private. which is especially
equipped to give them an education.
The object of this letter is 10 notify
YOU that We are anxious to cooperate
with all local officials charged with
the enforcement of this law and that
the Illinois School for the Blind and
the Illinois School for the Deaf. both
al Jacksonville. have plenty of room
10 accommodate the blind and deaf
children between the ages of eight and
eighteen.
Those schools will he glad 10 fur,
nlsh Information you may desire OF
that any parent or guardian may wish
respecting facilities. accommodation
and the Ike. The location of these
schools is nearly ideal, aifording de-
lightful and wholesome environments
and example for such children.
They are in charge OF superintend
ents who have had long training and
experience In teaching the blind and
pctont In fact both schools stand
very high among the special schools
OF this country. We believe that a
state school, backed by the state and
with long honorable record for re
suits. whore numbers of pupils make
il possible to provide the most com
petcnt teachers and facilities. should
appeal 10 the parents or guardians as
the very best In which 10 place blind
or deaf children for education
On the attached page is copy OF
The law referred to.
,..t DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE,
By Chas. II. Thorne
The Law.
An Act To make provision for tht
education OF deaf and blind children.
Section |. Be il enacted by the peo
pie Of the State OF Illinois represented
in the General Assembly: II shall
be the duty of every parent, guardian
or other person. having the contro
or charge Of any child in this state
between the ages OF eight and eigh
teen years. who is deaf or blind, OF
whose hearing or vision is. 50 defec
tive as TO make /; impracticable tC
have such child educated in the ordi
mary public schools Of this state, &c
send such child to some school under
private or public supervision, where
special provision is made for the edu
cation OF the deaf or blind: il there
be such a school within the county
where such child resides, then such
child may be sent thereto. but if not
then some other convenient school ot
that character, within the state or tC
the Illinois School for the Deaf. or Il
the Illinois School for the Blind. a
Jacksonville. Provided. that nothInl
herein shall require a child not ply
sically or mentally competent to bt
educated. to be so sent.
Section 2. In cases where such par
ent, guardian or other person havini
the control or charge of such chile
who is deaf or blind or whose hearing
or vision is defective, as aforesaid, il
unable financially, TO Furnish such
child with transportation or the pro
per or necessary clothing the count,
court OF the county in which suci
child resides, or in which il may b,
found on application OF any citizen o
tho. county. may make an order di
rccting such child 70 be taken TO sucl
school as the parent. guardian ma,
prefer. or II no preference be so OK
pressed. them TO such school as tn,
court may deem for the best interes
OF such child and for the furnishn,
Of transportation FOR that purpose
which transportation shall include
proper custodian. preferably the pa
rent or guardian. and also for the fur
niShing OF suitable and proper cloth
ing, ii that be necessary. which eS
peuse shall be advanced by the sheriff
of the county, and allowed by tn
hoard of supervisors on his bill Pre-
perry Wondered. which order may pre-
perry include an allowance for the r.
turn of such child AT suitable int,
vals,