Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-01-01
Compulsory Law For Education

Columbia State.
One Of the most interesting of the
bills to be debated at the coming ses-
sion tof the general assembly is the
proposed compulsory act. There were
two of these bills, one by Representa-
tive Aull Of Newberry and another by
4 Representative Kershaw of Florence.
a It was decided to report back sub
stitute bill taking some of the fea-
tnres of the two. and merging them
4 with q few amendments. s. -
y AS there has been considerable dis
cussion over the merits of such "a law
4 the text Of the bill to be brought up
in the house and senate will be of in
3 terest. 1t is as follows:
t5tsBe it enacted by. the general as
sembly of the State Of South Caro-
4 lima:
aSection 1. Every parent, guar
dian or other person in the State of
I South Carolina having control or
4 charge Of a child or children be-
tween the ages of. 8 and IA year;
shall be required to send such child
or children to a public school for a
period Of at least 12 weeks in each
school year, at least four weeks of
which shall be consecutive, unless
such child or children are excused
from such attendance by the board
! Of school trustees of the school dis
j trict in which suchsparents orsguar-
dians reside, in their discretion upon.
Tits being shown to- their satisfaction
4 that the bodily or mental condition of
such child or. children has~been- such
as to prevent his or her or their at
s tendance at school or application to
study for the period required, or that
such child or children are taught in
q private school or at home, in such
branches as are usually taught in
primary schools or have already ac-
quired the ordinary branches Of
learning taught in the public schools.
Sec. 2. For every neglect of such
duty, as provided in section 1 Of this
act, the person offending may be pun
ished by a fine of not exceeding $40
or imprisonment not exceeding ten
days provided, the person so offending
shall not be prosecuted except as
provided in section 8 of this act.
Sec. 3. TIE board of school trus-
tees in the school district shall, at
The time of appointment or. election
of teachers each year, appoint one OF
their number, whose duty it shall be
to ascertain ALI persons that he may
deem to be violating this act, and no
person shall be- prosecuted until rea-
sonable warning has been given, as
provide ID IN this section. and only b.
order al ttlle said board sof trustees
la on oath Of lie member Of SUCH
be Ell E5ointed by s1cIlt6
81 y
- Il: Isl ytssos sis 515sD,
3sIia Il srs.e tc comply with the pro-
visions Of section of this act, theii
ease may d, Be disco ontinued, or sentence
suspended, in the discretion OF the
MAGISTRATE issuing the warrant,
Sec. 4. Whenever it shall appear
4 to the satisfaction of the board OF
school trustees Of any school district
in this. State that the parents, guar
diaps or other persons having control !
and charge of any child or children in
attendance upon the public school of
said district, in accordance. with the
provisions of this act, are unable to
procure sui able books, stationery,
ETC., for such child OF children, it
shall be the duty of such board OF
school trustees to procure, or cause to
be procured, for such child or child
rem, all necessary books, stationery,
ETC., the some to be paid for out OF,
the fund of said school district in
the same manner that other claims