Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-19
COMPULSORY EDUCATION LAW

Through Both Houses, and as II
Will Probably be Passed by the
Governo~very Little compuIsior
in il; but Some Very Excellent
Features Nevertheless.
Correspondence The Yorkviils Enquirer
Columbia, Feb. 18.-The only thing
South Carolina now lacks Of having a
local option compulsory school at
tendance law-the district being the
unit Of compulsion, and not the coun-
ty or state-is the signature Of Gov
ernor Manning. After many hours of
debate in both the house and senate
on the measure Of MI. Harper in the
former body and Mr.. Sinkler in the
latter, each bill passed its respective
body and was sent to the other. Then
the committees on free conference
were appointed from the two houses,
with the result that the differences in
the bills were composed In a bill which
1t Is thought will become a law in a
very few days-as soon as the govern
or's signature is attached to 1t. Care
full reading Of the bill allays any fear
that its provisions are apt to work a
hardship on the people. No district
In the state which does not wish to
coOpI w 10" Sdl NC 1OICCo " w W.
One Of the York members, Mr.. Brad
ford, was especially pleased when he
learned that an amendment he had
offered to the Harper bill had stuck
as section II in the bill finally adopt
ed, which Is as follows:
Section 1. That from and after the
first day Of July, 1915, every parent,
guardian or other person, temporarily
OF permanently residing in the state
Of South Carolina, having charge or
control of a child or children 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, continu-
ously for the entire school term of
each year, except as hereinafter pro-
vided. The period of compulsory at
tendance shall commence at the be-
ginning Of the school term nearest to
the eighth birthday Of such child, and
shall cover the compulsory period of
six consecutive school years thereaft-
er. This period Of compulsory at
tendance for each public school shall
commence at the beginning Of the
school term Of said school, unless
Of education in writing; In cas- of
lOWio vi SlllCo VI WV lhOdodlio VI
more inhabitants, according to the
preceding Federal census, by the
board Of trustees Of the public schools
Of said towns or cities with the ap-
prevail in writing Of the county super
intendent Of education. Continuous
attendance upon such other 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 such 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 OF church school re-
ceiving for instruction pupils between
the ages Of eight and fourteen years
shall be required to keep such records
Of attendance 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 rec
ords or to render such reports, shall
upon the local public school Of the
said town. city or district where the
child shall be entitled to attend. Pro-
vided. further. That the compulsory
school term in all agricultural dis
tricts shall be four months or the full
term II 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 pro-
vision shall also apply to all children
residing in agricultural 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 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 the
child resides two and one-half miles or
more by the nearest travelled route
from the sc%hoolhouse; 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 his parents, as attested by az
fidavit of such parents and OF such
witnesses as the trustees OF the dis
trict may require; or In any case In
which said parents, guardians, or 9TH
er persons having charge Of the child
shall show before the trustees Of the
district by affidavit of himself and of
such witnesses as they h may re-
quire that the child Is without neces-
sary books and clothing for attending
school. and that he Is unable to pro-
vide the necessary books and cloth
ing: Provided, That when books and
4 1L@lI Inxra haA~ nttnn1tnd hyy
any means whatsoever, the child shall
vision: Provided, further, That II the
child lives two and one-half miles or
more from the schoolhouse, and
means of transportation Is furnished,
the said child, If otherwise eligible,
shall be required to attend the said
school under the provisions hereof,
and 1t shall be the duty Of the trus-
tees Of the school to provide out Of
the public school funds books for the
use of such INDECENT pupil free Of
charge. The power Of the board Of
trustees to suspend or expel any pu-
pill shall not oe curtaiied by this act,
and children so suspended or expelled
shall not be subject to the provisions
Of this act during such period of sus-
pension or expulsion: And Provided,
luTtTeT, nat Tic uOdIu VI uolCCo VI
any school district may excuse tenn
porarily any child from attendance,
good and sufficient reasons being
made to appear therefor; and, In case
any child Is excused temporarily I'M
der the provisions Of this act, the said
board of trustees shall reduce to writ
ing the reasons for their action, and
the time the said child Is excused.
Sec. 3. Every parent, guardian, or
other person In the state Of South
Carolina having charge or control of
a child or children between the ages
Of eight and fourteen years shall cause
such child to attend school as afore-
said: Provided, That occasional abb
sence from attendance by said child,
amounting to not more than four (4)
unexcused absences In four consecu-
tive weeks, shall not be unlawful: Pro-
vided, further, That the superintend-
ent, principal or teacher in charge OF
any school may excuse any child for
a temporary absence because Of un-
usual storm, or bad weather, sickness
or death in the child's family, unfore-
seen or unavoidable accident, and
such excuse and reason therefor shall
be recorded by said superintendent.