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Michigan has a comprehensive law for compelling children to attend school. Previous to 1895 the authority of truant and district officers has been limited, and a general enactment was passed by the legislature giving additional power to those dealing with parents who are indifferent concerning the education of the children, or with truants who baffle the authority of their parents (Act 95, 1895).

Every parent, guardian, or other person in the state of Michigan having control and charge of any child between the ages of eight and fourteen years, and in cities between the ages of seven and sixteen years, is required to send such child to the public school for a period of at least four months in each school year (except that, in cities having a duly constituted police force, the attendance at school shall not be limited to four months), beginning on the first Monday of the first term commencing in his or her district after September 1, 1895, and of each year thereafter. Such attendance must be consecutive, and each and every pupil between the ages specified must have attended school the entire four months previous to the thirtieth day of June in each year.

1. Those who are being taught in private schools in such branches as are usually taught in public schools.