Father Threatened with Jail Over Son's Truancy
A local father learns that his son's late-night job as a messenger was no excuse for missing classes, as the court issues a 50-day ultimatum.
Because it was alleged that J. O. Jensen would not send his 14-year-old son Ernest to school, he was arrested this morning by Truant Officer John Hill and tried before Judge Arntson. The case was continued until this afternoon so that Ernest could be brought into court. Jensen told the judge that he had repeatedly ordered his son to go to school in their district, the Horace Mann, and that, failing, he had sent him to a night school. The boy, however, obtained afternoon work on a local messenger force, and worked until 12 o'clock each night, giving his father the impression that he was at school, Mr. Jensen said. The judge told Jensen this morning that there were only two alternatives: that Ernest must be sent to school until he is 15 years old, or that the father must go to jail for 50 days.
“The judge told Jensen this morning that there were only two alternatives: that Ernest must be sent to school until he is 15 years old, or that the father must go to jail for 50 days.”
This story highlights the strict enforcement of mandatory schooling in the early 20th century. It offers a glimpse into the economic pressures on youth at the time, where even children were working until midnight to support their families, clashing with the city's educational requirements.
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