The Washington times., 1922-09-03
SAID TOFAVOR
CAPPER' 'SPLAN
AS EMBRACED
IN SENATE ACT
House Committee to Take Up
Measure for Discussion at
Early Date.
IT'S PROVISIONS STRINGENT
Provides Penalties for Parents
of Children Habitual in
Non-Attendance.

Congressman Beniamon X. Focht
chairman of the House District
Committee, will seek early action
before the committee on the COM
pulsory school bill introduced IN
the Senate by Senator Arthur
Capper, which has been passed by
the Senate.
Chairman Focht is known to be
infavor of compulsory school
measure. 1t is eXpscted the Sem
ate bill will be taken up by the
House committee within several
weeks.
Provisions Of Bill.
The compulsory school bill pro.
vides:
That every parent or guardian wno
hns charge or control of ii child I've.
tween the ages of seven and sixteen
.cers shall send such child 20 ne
regularly instructed in a public, pri-
cnte or parochial school, or De Ia.
3 "uCted privately during the lime N
wh ch the public schools are iT SSs-
siJn.
"
Inl sixteen years who has complete I'd
.tsfactorily the eighth grade course
OF study prescribed for the public
elementary schools or has an equiv.
Glent education may be excused by
the superintendent Of schools from
further attendance at school.
Record Of Attendance.
That an accurate daily attend
ance record of the attendance of
all children between ! and 16 years
in public or private schools be
kept.
That principals of public and
private schools shall report to the
department OF school attendance
whenever any child has been absent
from school two day sessions
or four onc-half day sessions in
any school month. together with
the reasons for such absence as
far as known.
That the board Of education may
issue a certificate eXcusing from
attendance at school any children
reported to be unable mentally or
physically to profit from attend.
Rncc at school. provided, however.
that IL examination shows the child
may benefit from special instruc-
tions the child shall be assigned TO
q typical, ungraded or other spe-
cial classes provided Tor such
pupils.
That the school board shall de-
fine reasons for absence from
school and that any absences for
other than those prescribed shall
be deemed unlawful.
That. complete census Of all
children between the ages OF three
and eighteen years residing per.
manently or temporarily in the
District be made by the Depart
ment Of Attendance as soon as
practicable after the bill passes.
Fine $50 For Violation.
That parents or guardians shield
ing or Giving false information As
TO age or makes a false statement
ms to a child's attendance shall BE-
liable to arrest for misdeameaD or
and n fine Of $50.
That parents or guardians wfo
raiI to keep child regularly in
the public or private schools shall
be liable to arrest and fine OF Sl0
or commitment to Jail for five
DAYS. It provides further that
each two days the child remains
away from school shall be sep
arate offense.
That any child unlawfully and
habitually absent from school or
II found to be working In violation
Of the child labor laws, may he
deemed 4 dependent or delinquent
child, and dealt with as such.
That a Department OF Attend.
ance be created by the Board OF
Education to enforce tpe compul'
sorry school law.
Thirty thousand dollars Is ap'
propriated to pay for the establish
rnent of this new department. The
Juvenile Court Is given jurisdiction
over all cases arising from viola
Al~.. - tl,a