Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-10-29
SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL
Or be Fined-A Curious Case from
Mariaviile in Municipal Court.


Mariaviile In Municipal Court.
Charles l.. Pyle, a well-known merchant
and ex official OF Mariaville. was before
Judge Peters In the municipal court
Monday, charged with allowing or eaus-
ing the absence of his three children,
Mary, HadIey aud Charlie, aged twelve,
nine and seven years respectively, from
dist rict school Of that town.
The case is an unusual one and of a
kind with which the Ellsworth officials
had never before had to deal.
George b. Stuart. superintendent OF
Ellsworth's schools, appeared for the
State; Pyle, the respondent, had no coun-
sci.
Mr.. Stuart, for the prosecution, stated
that 1t was not the desire OF the officials
to iniict heavy punishment on Pyle, II
found guilty, but to uphold the laws and
the action OF the town officials.
The witnesses called for the State were
Mrs. George A. Frost, the teacher, who
read the records of the school showing the
absence OF the Pyle children, and testified
as to their apparent health and ability to
learn.
George A. Frost, Mariavilie's snperin-
tendent OF schools, and husband OF the
teacher, said that he had told Pyle to send
the children to school, and that he had
refused; he therefore turned the case over
to the truant officer, Mr.. Moore.
Alexander b. Moore, the truant officer,
and complainant In the case, testified
that he had been to Pyle to demand that
the children should be sent to school, and
the latter had told him not to "meddle
with his children.
1t was apparent that much feeling had
been stirred up Id the matter among res
dents Of the town, and that sides had
been taken. This was shown clearly by
the defense.
The respondent had no counsel, but he
had q case, and called in an array OF
some six or eight weli-known residents
of Msriaville, all OF whom had children In
the schools, one OF whom was Frank
Frost, a member OF the experimenting
school committee.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pyle gave as reason for
keeping their children from school, that
the moral training OF the scholars had
not been what 1t should be under the
present teacher, and that unbecoming
talk had been PERMITTED TO go on about
the schoolhouse.
The testimony OF the other witnesses
was OF the same nature. Several said
they would not send their children to
school to this teacher II she should teach
| in their district. One of these was Frank
Frost, wbo is one OF the officials whose
duty 1t is to see that schools and instruc-
tors are what they should be.
Mr.. Stuart, for the State, brought out
The facts that the children had been per-
mitted To leave school at times in previous
years by their parents, and that on this
occasion they had been to school seven
weeks before the controversy arose.
The respondent accounted for this by
stating that on previous occasions Mrs.
Pyle, who was a teacher, had been per-
mitted by the superintendent to teach her
children at home, and that Mrs. Frost had
assured the children that she was only
teaching for short time until the regular
teacher arrived.
In summing up the case Mr.. Stuart said
that to have school with no complaints
was very rare In his experience, and that
II parents should be permitted to take
their children from school at pleasure,
1t would be disastrous to the present
school system. He therefore asked that
the officials be upheld in their action, as
the interests not ,ony OF This school but
also of the whole State might be involved.
Judge Peters thought that the matter
was really one not for him to decide, but
for the officisis of Marisvilie. Pyle, how
ever, he found technically guilty of the
charge, and hned him s3 without costs,
which heipaid.