The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-06-01
SINKLER--HAWkINS ACT TO
REQUIRE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Section /. Be it enacted by the gen.
eraI assembly Of the State Of Sout4
Carolina, That from and after the 1st
day of July, 1915, every parent, guard
ian, OR otner person, temporarily or
permanently residing in the State of
South Carolina, having c3arge or con-
troll of child or children between the
ages of eight and fourteen years, stall
cause such child or children to at
tend the local public school in the
district in which !he resides, continu-
ousIy for the entire school term Of
each year, except as hereinafter pro-
vided. This period of compulsory at
tendance shall commence at the be-
ginning of the school term nearest to
the eighth birthday of such child, and
snail cover the compulsory period OF
six consecutive school years there
after. This period of compulsory at
tendance for each, public school shall
commence at the beginning Of the
school term of said school, unless 9TH
erwise ordered by the county board Of
education in writing; in case of town
or cities of 1000 or more inhabitants,
according to the preceding federal
census, by the board of trustees of the
public schools of said towns or cities
with the approval in writing of tie
county superintendent OF education.
Continuous attendance upon some 9TH
er public school, or upon some private
or church school taught by competent
teachers, may be accepted in lieu Of
attendance upon the local public
school Provided, that sucn period of
continuous attendance upon such other
school shall be for at least as long
as the public school term each year:
Provided, further, that any private
school or church school receiving for
instruction pupils between the ages Of
eight and fourteen years shall be re-
Quired to keep such records Of attend
ance of such children. and to render
such reports of same as are herein
after required Of public schools, and
attendance upon such school refusing
or neglecting to keep such records or
to render such reports, shall not be
accepted in lieu of attendance upon
the local public school of the said
town, city or district where the child
shall be entitled to attend: Provided,
further, that tie compulsory school
term in all agricultural districts shall
be four months. or tie full term if the
school runs less than four months, said
term to be fixed by the board of trus-
tees of such district; and any child or
children not engaged in work at home
in such agricultural districts, must at
tend a full term. D1is four months
compulsory provision shall also ap-
ply to all children residing in agricul-
tural districts and attending schools
in any town located in sucl districts,
Sec. 2. T2is act shall not apply in
any case in which the child's physical
or mental condition, as attested By any
legally qualified physician before the
board of trustees having Jurisdiction
of the matter under this act, renders
his attendance impracticable or mex
pedient; or in any case in which tae
child resides two and one-half miles
or more by the nearest travelled route
from the school house; or in any case
in which, because of extreme poverty,
the services Of such Child are neces-
sary for his own support or the sup
port of lais parents, as attested by af-
ddavit of such parents and OF such
witnesses as the trustees Of the district
may require; or in any case IN which
said parent, guardian, or other person
having charge or control of the child
shall show before the trustees of the
district by affidavit Of himself and OF
such witnesses as they may require
that the child is without necessary
books and clothing for attending
school, and that ne is unable to pro-
wide the necessary books and clothing:
Provided, that when books and clothes
shall have been supplied by any means
whatsoever, the child shall no longer
be exempt from this provision: Pro
vided, further, that if the child lives
two and one-half miles or more from
the schoolhouse, and means of trans
portation is furnished, the said child
if otherwise eligible, shall be required
to attend the said school under the
provisions llereof, and it shall be tee
duty of the trustees of the school tc