Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-09-14
TRUANT OFFICERS
HARD LINES

llANU LINE )
The life of the truRnt officer is not
lone sweet song" under the most fav-
orable circumstances. The bad boy
who plays truant may not love his
books, nor his teacher. but hate" IS the
only word that will describe the feel
! ing that rankles in his bosom as the
truaut officer like lurking shadow
! looms up in his rear and the boy who
| is taking a day off inyents prOfane and
| offensive epithetS, which he hurls at
| the weary officer as he leads him a
merry chase through the back alleys
and over the ravines of the Fourth
Ward Neither is the officer always
received with smiles when he visits
! the parental home to inform the one
in authority there that Johnny or
| Willie is derelict and there are cases
on record when he did not prolong the
discussion but left very unceremOn-
| iously. All these things it must be
confessed. are very discouraging when
a man is simply doing his duty by
carrying out law enacted for the
! good of both the individual and the
Commonwealth.
Just now officer Young is having
an especially hard time of it owing to
the change of the law, which raises
the age at which a child may leave
school from thirteen years to fourteen
years. 1t would seem that large
proportion of people who desire their
childIeG to leave school and 90 to
work are not familiar with the change
of law and the limit they have in
their mind is thirteen" years. 1t
devolves upon the officer to inform
them wherein they are wrong and
what must be done to comply with
the law 1t is this task which makes
his life so strenuous just now, fer
good many children affected by the
change are out of school and there are
instances in which the parents SEEM
ingly would rather not be convinced.
In several cases opposition has reach
ed such pass that the officer declares
he will have TO invoke the aid of the
law to compel the parents to send
their children to school another year.
The change of law was set forth in
these columns several months ago 1t
is now msdemeanor to employ
minor under fourteen years of age or
to employ one between the ages of
fourteen and sixteen years unless he
or she produces properly executed
employment certificate, setting forth
that the minor is able to read and
write simple sentences in the English
language and has complied with the
educational law OF the Common
wealth. 1t Is folly therefore. to keep
child under fourteen or even under
sixteen if unable TO read or write, out
of school. hoping to lind employment
for him or her. as the Superintendent
would not be empowered to issue
certificate in such a case and without
such certificate employment in mills
'''""'N 10 ont of the question.
School Board in Session.
The School Board held a regular
meeting Monday. The members pre-
sent were Adams, TrumboWer, Harpel,
Pursel, Burns, Fischer, Werkheiser.
Grone, VonBlohn. Orth and Heiss.
Mr.. Orth reported that one bid had
been received for the Depot school
property.
The treasurer presented his report,
which showed cash balance OIL hand
of Sg67l. 20. Mr.. Fischer, of the Build
ing and Repair Committee, reported
that all repairs ordered had been made
at the different school buildings.
Mr.. Trumhower reported that the
chairs ordered have been in part de.
livered
On motion it was ordered that ten
dollars be appropriated to purchase
supplies for the Department Of Zoology.
Mr.. Burns reported that curtains are
needed in all the rooms. On motion
the Building and Supply Committee
was instructed to take the matter un-
| der consideration.
| A change of the short hand system
| in the Commercial Department as re-.
commended by Mr.. Magill was ap-
proved by the Board.
The following bills were approved
! for payment:
! William Miller r...............S .5O
! Danville Stove Co ......... 4i.Sl
William Aten ........... 13. OF
f. p. Started .............-..- 2.Ol
Standard Gas Go .............. .SC
Morning News ......-......... VI
u. S. Express Co Co.............. III
Emery Shultz ............-.-. %