Weekly journal-miner., 1915-09-22
TURN YOUR TOES TOWARD
 TEMPLE OF LEARNING
(From Thursday's Daily.l

boyS and glrlS ot School age, un- less possessing legal excuse, had bet ter turn their toes toward the temples of learning, now that the fall semester has commenced, else they may run afoul of the law That the school authorities intend to force attendance may be inferred from the following statement made by one of them yes terday:
 "We propose to enforce the attend ance law for the public schools of this city. It is a matter of common knowledge that children do not know the importance of attending school. It is not giving them square deal to permit them to roam the streets or engage in other trifling occupa- tions while school is in session. The schools arc maintained at great ex- pense for the benefit of the children and the school board proposes to do its duty in trying to have them get the benefit of it.
 "We wish to make an earnest ap- peal to parents of children and to business men who, during vacation, employ children under 16 years of age, to cooperate with us in this mat ter.
 There are accommodations for every child in this school district. We want him in the school room, where he belongs. The opportunities for an education which Prescott is offer ing are excellent, but they will go for naught unless we are alive to the need for prompt and punctual attendance; no child of school age should be permitted to absent himself from school without the most press ing and evident reasons therefor; if in any case his parents or guardians can furnish such evidence, the way is open for adjusting the matter as prescribed by the school law published below. We should very much dis like to appeal to the courts in the matter of truancy and non-attend- ance, but shall be compelled to do so in cases of the neglect of plain duty of every intelligent citizen"
 The law referred to in the interview is as follows:
 Par. 2SO2. No child under the age of 16 years shall be employed by any person, persons, company or corpor- ation during the school hours of any school day of the school term of the public school in the school district where such child resides, unless such child presents a written permit from the board of trustees for reasons here in specified. Every such employer shall require proof that such child has been excused from such attendance, and shall keep a record of such proof, which shall be open to the inspection of an attendance officer, peace off cer or school trustee, teacher, prin- cipal or superintendent, of the dis trict Any employer employing al child contrary to the provisions otI this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and liable to fine of not less than S25 nor more than Sl00, to be placed to the credit of the school fund of the district. Every parent, guardian, or other person in the State of Arizona having control of any child between the ages Of 8I and 16 years shall be required to send such child to a public school or private school taught by competent instructor for the full time that the public school is in session in the school district such attendance to be continuous, for five days in the week during the hours prescribed by law; provided that such person, guardian or other person having control ot. such child shall be excused from such duty by the board of trustees of the district wherever it shall be shown to its satisfaction that one of the fol lowing reasons exist:
 1. That such child is taught at home by competent teacher in the branches taught in the common schools of the State.
 2. That he is attending regularly organized private or parochial school taught by competent teachers, the regular school hours for five days in the week for the full time that the public school is in session in the dis trict.
 3. That such child is in such physi- cal or mental condition Gas declared by a competent physician approved by the board) as to render such at tendance inexpcdient or impractical ble.
 4. That such child has already completed the grammar school course prescribed by the State board of edu- cation.