Any trustee of schools who fails or refuses to make returns of children in his township according to the provisions of this Act, or who knowingly makes a false return thereof, is guilty of a petty offense and shall be liable to a fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00, to be recovered by an action before the circuit court of the county; which penalty, when collected, shall be added to the distributive fund of the township in which the trustee resides.