The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-05-19
IAN act TO REQUIRE SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE.

I;eneral Assembly of the State of
Soaath Carolina, That from and after
sslhs first day of July, n thousand
mine hundred and fifteen, every par
enh. guardian, or other person, tenn
u~cyzarily or permanently residing IN
she. State of South Carolina, having
charge or control of a child or chill,
e1reR between the ages OF eight and
foErteen years, shall cause sucn
chM or children to attend the local
uzSlic school in the district IN which
Se nssides, continuously for the en-
sirx school term of each year, except
as hereinafter provided. This period
Of compulsory attendance shall COM
Ynsnce at the beginning of the school
gte,n nearest to the eighth birthday
of such child, and shall cover the
.rpmpulsory period of six consecutive
srbool wears thereafter. This period
compulsory attendance for each
puhlic school shall commence at the
beginning of the school term OF said
srkrol, unless otherwise ordered by
,ths County Board of Education IN
writing; in case of town or cities OF
hrn thousand or more inhabitants,
absorbing to the preceding Federal
census, by the Board of Trustees of
she public schools of said towns or
CITIES with the approval in writing Of
The County Superintendent OF Edu-
.cstion. Continuous attendance upon
some other public school, or upon
. some private or church school taught
by competent teachers, may be &C
cepted in lieu of attendance upon
the local public school,: Provided,
That such period of continuous at
tendance upon such other school
shall be for at least as long as the
pnhlic school term each year: Pro-
yiGed, further, That any private
{: school or church school, receiv-
ing for instruction pupils be-
tween the ages Of eight and
fourteen years shall be required to
Keep such records of attendance of
syeh children, and to render such re-
ports of some are hereinafter re-
1anired of public schools, and atten-
edance upon such school refusing or
neglecting to keep such records or
to render such reports, shall not be
: Ea,xpted in lieu of attendance upon
the focal public school Of the said
The town, city or district where the
child shall be entitled to attend:
Crowded, further, That the COM
pMisory school term in all %agricultur-
al districts shall be four months, or
sha full term if the school runs less
than four months, said term to be
fixed by the Board of Trustees of
sDch district; and any child or chill
>e3ren not engaged in work at home in
ach agricultural districts, must at
tend a full term. This four months
compulsory provision shall also ap-
ply to all children residing in agri-
cultural districts and attending
schools in any town located in such
, districts.
Sec. 2. This Act shall not apply
in any case in which the child's phy-
asical or mental condition, as attest
ed by any legally qualified physician
Before the Board of Trustees having
jurisdiction of the matter under this
Art, renders his attendance imprac-
Gcable or inexpedient; or in any
1caa in which the child resides two
.and one-half miles or more by the
nearest travelled route from the
Eschoolhouse; or in any case in which
because of extreme poverty, the SER
wees of such child are necessary for
Ills own support or the support of
his parents, as attested by affidavit
nof such parents and of such wit
lnssses as the Trustees of the dis
kr4ra may require; or in any case in
wbich said parent, guardian, or other
person having charge or conerol of
. the child shall show before the Trus-
3D.. tees of the district by affidavit of
-. himself and of such witnesses as
lxbry may require that the child is
without necessary books and cloth
Ing for attending school, and that
41e is unable to provide 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
,1Tro and one-half miles or more from
the schoolhouse, and means of trans
Yanrtation is furnished, the said child,
IT otherwise eligible, shall be re-
slolred to attend the said school un-
der the provisions hereof, and it
ashait be the duty Of the Trustees of
4he school to provide, out of the pub
Liz school funds, books for the use
OF such INDECENT pupil free Of charge.
The power of the Board of Trustees
81 suspend or eXpel any pupil shall
not be curtailed by this Act. and
children 50 suspended Or expelled
shall not be subject to the provisions
at this Act during such period of
suspension or expulsion: And. pro-
H1dad. further. That the Board of
Trustees of any school district may
n%ruse temporarily any child from
attendance, good ard sufficient rea-
sons being made to appear therefor:
ma in case any child is excused tenn
nUrarily under the provisions Of this
AT. the said Board IF Trustees
shall reduce to writing the reasons
for their action, and the time the
.;uG child is excused.
Sec. 3. Every parent. guardian.
go s,slon.. .,I-,r- -, H. S-4 T. $3.50