Arizona republican., 1913-09-10
EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS IF
 SCHOOL AGE
Only Five Excuses Possible Under Law w h ere b y Boys May Be Excused from Attendance at Pub lie Schools

Finder the statutes of the state of Arizona there are only five reasons why a boy under sixteen years of age may not attend the public schools of the state. In view of this condition and in order that all employing boys of six teen years and under shall be well ap- prised of the true facts of the case, the Repnblican representative visited the office of Superintendent J D. IOper yesterdav and discussed the law thor oughlv with the authorities there. The employment of boys under age was a matter of much serious discussion at both the first session and the second and third special sessions of the legis- lature. the final outcome of the legis- lation being that a boy of school age may not be employed for wages or even by his parents during school hours for gain or otherwise except under the fol- lowing conditions:
 First the school law provides that every boy must go to school until he has passed the age of sixteen. To this law there are four exceptions or eXcus- es: that the boy may work if he is under sixteen and has finished the grammar grades; if he goes to a pri- vate school where the instruction is as thorough as that offered in the public grades; if he is being taught at home by a competent teacher; and if he pre- sents a physicians certificate stating his physical inability to attend school. These are the only excuses in this law which allow the working of boy under the age of sixteen.
 However under the revised statutes of the state of Arizona there is another exception. This law appoints a board of three, consisting of the superinten dent of public instruction, one proba tion officer and the president of the board of trustees and this board Is given the power to excuse boy from school or to grant permit allowing the boy to go to work only at the discretion of the board and when the affairs of the family demand the wages of the younger one. For the violation of this law the employer is made guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100, while the fine to which the par rents are subject is smaller, not less than s nor more than $25. Any em- plOyer who wishes to arrange for the employment of any children under the age of sixteen will do well to see some one at the office of the superintendent of public instruction. where the proper blanks may be secured, and where the proper action may be taken toward the end in view.
 There is still another law which will prohibit the working of young boys, and this is the child labor law as passed by the first regular session of the state legislature. This law prohib- it's the hiring of a boy under IA in nearly all lines of employment, and places a bar to the employment of boys in many occupations even up to the time when they become of age. It also provides that where there are boys em- ployed under the ages of school at tendance, there shall be kept on file at all times an employment permit prop erly certified, and there shall be pub lished and posted in plain sight list of all minors so employed This law in the opinion of those who have to do with the enforcing of it, is the best child labor law in the United States and is above all at least a good piece of legislation that that the people of the state may attribute to the last leg islature.