Year: 1872

CHAPTER LXXVI.

 An act concerning education

 Be it enacted by the senate and house of repre-

 sentatiyes, in general assembly convened:

 CHAPTER l.

 Of the instruction of children.

 Sec. l. All parents, and those who have the care of children, shall bring them up in some honest.and lawful calling or em- ployment; and shall instruct them or cause them to be instructed in reading, writing, English grammar, geography and arithmetic. And every parent. guardian, or other person having control and charge of any child between the ages of eight and fourteen years, shall cause such child to attend some public or private day school at least three months in each year, six weeks at least of which attendance shall be consecutive; or to be instructed at home at least three months III each year in the branches of education required to be taught in the public schools, unless the physical or mental condition of the child is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable.

 Sec. 2. No child under the age of four teen years shall be employed by any per son to labor i'll any business whatever, un- less such child shall have attended some public or private day school, where in- struction was given by teacher qualified to instruct in orthography, reading, writ ing, English grammar, geography, and arithmetic, at least three months of the twelve next preceding any and every year in which such child shall be SO employed; :; and every person who shall employ any child contrary to the provisions of this section, shall forfeit for each offense 8 penalty of one hundred dollars to the treasury of the state.

 Sec. 3. Every parent, guardian or oth- CT person having control and charge of any child, between the ages of eight and fourteen years, who has been temporarily discharged from employments in any busi- ness, in order to be afforded an opportu- nity to receive instructions or schooling, shall send such child to some public or private day school for the period for which such child may have been so discharged; :; unless the physical or mental condition of the child is such as to render such attend ance inexpedient or impracticable. Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the states attorneys in their respective counties, and the grand jurors in their respective towns, to inquire after and make presentment of all the offences against the provisions of the preceding sections; and any person who shall violate any of said prov isions, except those of section second, shall be punished by fine of five dollars, payable to the treasury of the town in which he | resides, for every week (not exceeding thirteen weeks in any one year., during which he shall have failed to comply with any of said provisions.

 Sec 5. It shall be the duty of the l school visitors in every town once or more l in every year, to examine into the situa- tion of the children employed in all man ufacturing establishments in such town, and ascertain whether all the provisions of this chapter are duly observed, and re- port all violations thereof to one of the grand jurors of the town. Sec. 6. The state board of education may take such action as they may deem proper to secure the due observance of all the provisions of this chapter, ,and may appoint an agent for that purpose, who shall receive from the treasury of the state l for his services, as such, five dollars day for the time actually employed, and his necessary expenses.

 Sec. 2. The selectmen, in their respec- tive towns. shall inspect the conduct of the heads of families, and if they find any who neglect the education of the children under their care, they may admonish them to attend to their duty; and if they con- tinue to be negligent whereby the child ren grow rude, stubborn, and unruly, they shall, with the advice of s justice of the peace, take such children from their pa- rents, or those who have the charge of them and bind them out to some proper master, or to any suitable charitable insti- tuition or society incorporated and exist. ing in this state for the care and instruc- ton of such children, males till twenty one, and females till eighteen years of age that they may be properly educated, add brought up in some lawful calling and employment.

 Sec. 8. Each city and town shall make all needful provisions and regulations concerning habitual truants from school, and any childrene wandering about it's I streets or public places, having no lawful occupation, .or business, or attending school, and growing up in ignorance, be- tween the ages of seven and sixteen years; and shall also make such bylaws, res- pecting such children, as shall be most conducive to their welfare, and the good order of such city or town; and suitable penalties shall be annexed to such bylaws not exceeding twenty dollars for any one breach; but said law shall, in the case of towns, be approved by the superior court sitting in any county in this state.