The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-03-04
COMPULSORY SCHOOL LAW.
New Education Statute As Il; Will
Find Its Way Among Acts of State.

compulsory education statute that
Will find it's way on the statute laws
of the State The report Of the COM
mittee OF free conference was agreed
upon and embraces the accepted
compromise. The act being as fol-
lows:
Section l. That from and after
the first day Of July, one thousand
nine hundred and fifteen, every pa
rent, guardian or other persons, tenn
porarily or permanently residing in
the State of South Carolina. having
charge or control of child or chill
dren between the ages of eight and
fourteen years, shall cause such
child or children to attend the local
public school in the district in which
he resides, continuously for the en-
tire school term of each year, except
as hereinafter provided. This period
of compulsory attendance shall COM
mence at the beginning of the school
term nearest to the eighth birthday
of such child. and shall cover the
compulsory period of six consecutive
school years thereafter. This period
of compulsory attendance for each
public school shall commence at the
beginning of the school term of said
school. unless otherwise ordered by
the county board Of education in
writing: in case of town or cities or
two thousand 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 the county superintendent of edu.
cation. Continuous attendance upon
some other public school, or upon
some private or church school taught
by competent teachers, may be ac-
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
public school term each year: Pro-
vided, further. That any private
school or church school receiving for
instruction pupils between the ages
of eight and fourteen years shall be
required to keep such records Of at
tendance of such children, and to
render such reports Of same as are
hereinafter required of public schools,
and attendance upon such school re-
fusing or neglecting to keep such
records or to render such reports,
shall not be accepted in lieu of at
tendance upon the local public
school of the said town, city or dis
trict where the child shall be en-
titled to attend: Provided, further,
That the compulsory school term IN
all agricultural districts shall be four
months or the full term If the school
runs less than four months, said term
to be fixed by the board Of trustees
of such district; and any child or
children not engaged in work at
home in such agricultural districts,
must attend a full term. This four
months compulsory provision shall
also apply to all children residing
in agricultural districts and attend
ing schools in any town located in
such district.
Physical Condition.
Section 2. This act shall not apply
in any case in which the child's ply
sical or mental condition, as attested
by any legally qualified physician he
fore the board of trustees having ju-
risdiction of the matter under this
act, renders his attendance imprac-
ticable or inexpedient; or in any case
in which the child resides two and
one-half miles or more by the near
est travelled route from the school
house: or in any case in which, be-
cause of extreme poverty the services
of such child are necessary for his
own support or the support OF his
parents, as attested by affidavit of
such parent and Of such witnesses
as the trustees of the district may
require; or in any case in which said
parents, guardians, or other persons
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 then may re-
quire that the child is without neces-
sary books and clothing for attend
ing school, and that he 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: Provided. fur
ther. That if the child lives two and