Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-09-04
Compulsory Attendance.
West Virginia School Law.
AGE, TIME, M1sDRMEANoR-

Sec. 70. Every person Paving under
his control child between the age OF
eight and fifteen years shall cause such
child to attend ssme free school for
period of twenty-four weeks, yearly,
beginning with the opening OF the
school term. For every neglect OF such
duty, the persoa offending shall be
guilty of q misdemean and snail
upen the conviction thereof, before
any justice, who is authorized TO try
and determine such cases, be fined two
dollars for the first offence, ana I'VE
dollars for each subsequent offence,
which fine shall be paid into the
building fund of the district in when
said offence occurred.
An offence as understood herein
shall consist in the failure OF such per-
sons for two days in any week to cause
such child to attend school, in case OF
sickness or death in the pupils family,
or other reasonable canse, or unless
the pupil be thoroughly and syste-
matically instructed for like period
of time elsewhere: provided. there be
school in session within two miles oil
the pupils home, by the nearest trav-
eled road.
TRUANT OFFICER.
Sec. 10. The board Of education of
every district or independent district at
it, first annual meeting, or as soon
thereafter as practicable, shall appoint
one or more truant officers whose duty
It shall .be to enforce the provision
hereof. Each officerso appointed shall
use due diligence to ascertain any vio-
ttion of this law, and when from per-
sonal knowledge or by report or com
pIaint frem any resident or teacher OF
The district under his supervision he
belieyes that any child subject to the
provisions hereof has been absentfron
school for two days he shall immediate
IL give written notice to the parent,
guardian or custodian of such child
that the attendance OF such child at
school is required, and if such parent,
guardian or custodian CT said child
does not comply with the provisions
sftbis section at once, then such truant
officer shall make compliant against
such parent, guardian, or custodian pc
fore The nearest justice of the peace;
provided that Tor subsequent Of
ences in any one year no such notice
shall be required.
EMPLOYER, MISDBAEANoR.
See. "a Any person whoinduees or
attempts to induce any such child TO 90
unlawfully absent from school while
the school in the district in which such
child lives is in session, shall be guilty
Of misdemeanor. and upon eonvlo-
tion thereof shall be punished by \
fine of twenty-five dollars, and may
be imprisoned ten days
DUTY OF TEACHERS.
Sec. rs. Teachers in graded and high
schools shall report TO truant onlcefs
all cases of violation hereof in thei
sub-Gistricts or independent districts,
and shall furnish all reports ane in
formation necessary 10 the proper
hearing of any case before justice OF
the peace and all.such teachers, prin-
cirals and superintendsnts shall as
sist truant officers in every reasonable
way in carrying out the provisions
thereof,
FINES.
Sec. rs. All fines collected under the
four preceding sections shall at once
b. paid over by the justice TO the sher-
iG, and by him credited to the build
ing fund of the proper district; and
every truapt officer shall make to the
secretary of the board ofeducation and
to the sheriff an itemized statement oil
on the last day of each of all fines I'M
posed hereunder.
COMPENSATION OF TRUANT OFFICERS
Soc. II. Said traant officers shall be
paid monthly at the rate of two dollars
per day for the time actually spent In
the discharge of their duties as such
eff GERS, but in no case shall payment
fer any months services be made IN
til the trIant officer has filed win the
secretary Of the boar Of education the
Statement required in the preceding
Sestion, together with sworn state
Asnt o. the number Of truaney cases
If vestigstsd, and lifetime actually en-
Dleyed in,such duties and filed the
statement requiree, the board Of eda
satien, if satisfied that the same arr
Just and correct, shall issue and dellv
erto him an order .ensthe sheriff for TIT
amount Of his account, payable out o
the building fund Of the district,
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