Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-13
REVIEWS SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE LAW
State Commissioner Kendall
Issues Synopsis of Statute
Regarding Children.

TRENTON, Dec. 1s.--Calvin n.
Kendall, State commissioner of educa-
ton, has prepared for the use Of
school officers. teachers and parents.
a synopsis of the compulsory attend
ance law passed at the last session Of
the Legislature.
The summary is as follows:
Il. All children between the ages
Of seven and sixteen years must at
tend school. or receive equivalent In
struction elsewhere, unless mentally
or physically incompetent
Exceptional child between four
teen and sixteen may be excused
from attendance. provided 1t can read
intelllgently and write legibly simple
sentences in the English language
and has completed a course of study
equivalent to five yearly grades IN
reading, writing, spelling, English
language, geography and arithmetic.
Including simple fractions, and Is
physically able to perform the work
in which 1t expects to be employed.
"2. Before a child between the ages
of fourteen and sixteen years can be
excused from school it must secure an
age and schooling certificate and
must present evidence that ii is about
to be employed in some useful occupa
tion or service. The child must return
to school as soon as 1t ceases to be
so employed. A certificate cannot be
issued unless the child has attended
school at least 100 days during the
twelve months preceding the date OF
the application.
80. Age and schooling certificates
shall be granted by the superintend
ent of schools or the supervising prin-
cipal If there be one. In a district in
Dc nm etttrA Ia u 49, 49,
supervising principal, the certificates
shall be issued by the principal teach-
er, and II there be no principal teacher
| by a person designated for the pur-
pose by the Board of Education.
II. Application for an age and
schooling certificate must be made In
person by the parent or guardian of
the child. The certificate must be
signed by the child in the presence Of
the person authorized to issue 1t.
20. The following proofs of age may
be accepted in the order named:
"a. An attested transcript of the
birth certificate.
''b A passport or attested transcript
of the baptismal certificate.
&c. Such other documentary evil
dence as shall be satisfactory to the
officer Issuing the age and schooling
certificate.
I'd. Certificate signed by two physi-
clans, stating that they have person.
ally examined the child. and that. in
their opinion, it is above the age OF
/ fourteen years.
IS. A certificate by the medical in
! spector. stating that the child Is in
sufficiently sound health and is physi-
cally able to be employed In any oc-
cupation in which the child may
legally be employed, must be filed
/ with the officer authorized to issue
the age and schooling certificate.
~. A parent or guardian who vlo-
lates any of the provisions of the law
may be proceeded against before the
Court of Common Pleas of the coun
ty or before a police justice or city.
town or borough recorder OF the
municipality in which the school dis
trict Is situate. A justice of tho
peace has no jurisdiction in such
| cases.
49, Any child between the ages OF
seven and fourteen years, and any
child between the ages of fourteen
and sixteen years, who is not law
fully employed. who Is repeatedly
absent from school, whose parent or
guardian is unable to cause it to at
tend school. and any pupil who is
incorrigible, vagrant, vicious or inn
moral, may De proceeded against al
a juvenile disorderly person in the
court for the trial of juvenile Of
tenders.
- Every Beard of Education must
appoint sufficinet number of at
tendance officers to secure an et1-
forcement of the law.
10. Rules for the government of at
tendance officers must be adopted bv
the Board of Education and approved
by the commissioner of education.
. IL. A Board of Education may es.
tablish special schools or classes for
the instruction and restraint of chill
dren above the age of seven years
who are habitual truants, or who are
hapitually lnsuoordinate, incorrigible
or disorderly In school,
i u Blanks necessary for CARRYING
the law into effect will be furnished
by the commissioner Of education"