Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-04-17
SCHOOL BOARD
WILL INVESTIGATE
Convinced that Children Under l3 are
Kept at Work.

The violation of the school law as
it relates to attendance according to
recent developments would seem TO be
carried on in Danville to Il shameful
extent The school board, which is
now graphing with the matter III "A
way that promises practical results,
devoted the greater part of the session
last night to full and careful Consld-
Grafton of the subject i'll all its bear
ings. Thoroughly convinced that there
has been false swearing and that many
children under l3 years of age are at
work in our mills and factories, it was
decided to employ an attorney and set
on foot full investigation to ascertain
where afiidavitS furnished are false
with the two fold object of getting the
children back into school and bringing
action against the parents for perjury
The special committee consisting OF
Barber Bycrly, Black, Keefer and
Green appointed at a previous meeting
to investigate the matter reported that
accompanied by Truant Officer Young,
they had made a tour of the different
industries where children are employ
ed. The treatment at one or more of
the plants. the committee complained,
was less courteous than il should have
been considering the praise worthy
object of the visit. The committee
were unanimous III the opinion that at
one industry alone there were no less
than twenty five boys and girls en-
ployed who We're under l3 years of
age In each instance, however, the
committee was confronted with the in
evitable affidavit in which the child
was represented as over l3.
TO justify the committees view II
well-known physician of our town vol
unteers the information that two of
the little ones suspected, which belong
to a family in which the doctor prac-
tices, are aged only II and II years
respectively. To substantiate the
charge the physician refers to his
books where the dates of their births
are found The committee do not doubt
but what this case has a parallel in
many others where the parents have
perjured themselves. Besides, it was
stated, there is another way of getting
round the difficulty. The school law
provides that il Is only when children
are able to read and write the English
language correctly that they may be
permitted to leave school at l3 years.
On their tour by frequent questioning
the committee found that there We're
very few Of the smaller ones at work
who had the semblanCe of an education.
On the whole there was so much room
for reform that the board acting upon
a suggestion of Mr. Green decided Ito
hcw to the line. -
On motion of Mr.. Keefer it was de
cided to employ an attorney to act III
conjunction with the tTuant officer III
investigating doubtful cases. A list
OF names already procured will be pres
cnted when il is believed that sutfici-
ent data will be obtained from physi-
clans accounts and from the assessors
returns made i'll previous years to trip
up the guilty parents and secure justice
for their children.
Treasurer Schram presented his re-
port which showed cash balance on
hand of $57OO.55.
Borough Superintendent U. l.. Gordy
who at "A previous meeting recommend
ed the granting of diplomas at the com
pletion of the grammar school course
addressed the board Monday still
further on the subject The directors
were thoroughly won over TO the idea
and when Superintendent Gordy eX-
hibited several sample diplomas which
he had received the board readily ad-
opted one.
On motion of Mr.. Green 300 diplomas
We're ordered "A supply which will last
for several years.
1t is the Superintendent idea to
dignity the completion OF the grammar
school course with an event similar i'll
some respects to commencement in the
high school. This may take place in the
school room on the last half day of the
term, when the diploma will De pre-
sented.
The following members oS the school
board were present at the meeting
Fischer, Orth, Green, Barber, Wcrk
heiscr, Black, Fenstermacher Keefer,
Byerly and Curry
The following bills We're ordered
paid: