Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-08-16
Approved March 81, 1918.

l. BE it enacted by the general as
scmbly of Virginia, that every pa
rent, guardian or other person having
charge or control of any child be-
tween the ages of eight and twelve
years, shall be required to send such
child to a public school of this Com
monwealth for at least sixteen weeks
IN each school year, which atten-
dance shall commence at the begin
ming of the school term, unless
otherwise ordered by the district
school board, and shall be as nearly
continuous and consecutive as con-
ditlons will permit, provided, how
ever, that this act shall not apply in
the case of any child weak in body
or mind, able to read and write or
attending Il private school, or living
more than two miles by the usually
Travelled route from the nearest pub
lie school, or more than one mile
from the line of an established pub
lie Tree wagon route, or excused for
cause by the district school trustees.
2. Each district school board in
the State shall, within fifteen days
after the school open in the fall,
ascertain the condition of all chill
drcn between the ages of eight and
twelve who are not in attendance
upon amy public school, and shall
report all violations of this act to
the division superintendent, who
shall ut once proceed to prosecute
each and every offensc.
8. In all cases of non-cnrollment
ana non-attcndance reported to him,
the division superintendent shall
make careful investigation of the
facts in the case, and where no
valid reason for non-enrollment ana
non-attendance is e found, he shall
give written notice to the parent,
guardian, or other person having
control of the child, and in the event
of the absence of the parent, or
guardian or other person having
control of the child from his or her
usual place or residence, the division
superintendent shall leave Il copy of
the notice with some person over
twelve years of age residing at the
usual place or residence of such pa
rent, or guardian, or other person
having control of such child with
instructions to hand such notice To
such parent, guardian, or other per-
son having control of such child
which notice shall require the atten-
dance of such child ut the school
therein named, within seven days
i. If within seven days from the
date of the service of the notice as
aforesaid, the parent, guardian, or
person having control of such child
does not comply with the provisions
OF this act, then the division surerin-
tendent shall make complaint in the
name of the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia before justice of the peace
or police justice of the district or
city in which such parent, guardian
or other person having control of
such child resides, or complaint NAV
he. made in the corporation or cir
cult court of the city or county in
which such child resides, which off
GERS and courts are hereby clothed
with jurisdiction over all offenscs
and the proceedings under this act
with full power to hear and try all
complaints, impose fines, penalties
and fully execute the provisions of
this act
.. Any parent, guardian, or other
person who fails to comply with the
provisions of this act shall be guilty
OF misdemeanor and shall be liable
TO fine not exceeding twenty dol
lar for each offcnsc. Such fine
shall be collected as other fines i'm
posed in the name of the Common
wealth OF Virginia are collected
u. The clerk of the district school
board in each district shall report
to the division superintendent every
offensc against the provisions of
this act when Il member of the dis
trict school board, or any citizen of
the district in which the offending
party resides files with him an aft
davit setting forth the facts consti-
tuting the offense and if he neglect
to do so within fifteen days after
such affidavit is filed, he Shall be
liable to fine of not less than five
nor more than ten dollars for each
ease of such neglect, to be collected
in the name of the Commonwealth
nelore any court or competent iuris-
diction by any person feeling agg-
rievcd thereby.
Z. Two weeks attendance at half
time or night school shall be consd-
cred within the meaning of this act
equivalent to an attendance of one
week ut day schol.
:. The schol board of any citv
shall have the right, in its discretion.
10 appoint truant or attendance
officer TO perform in said CITY the
duties required or the clerk of the
district school board and division
superintendent in the counties, which
officer so appointed shall in his city.
have all the rights and perform ali
o. the duties prescribed for the
! clerk OF the district school board and
division superintendent in counties,
as aforesaid and in case no truant
or attendance officer is appointed in
any city, as aforesaid, the rights
and duties prescribed for the clerk
OF the district school board and di-
vision superintendent in counties
snail IN such cities dcvolve upon and
be performed by the clerk of the
city school board and division supci
lntendent.
BE it further enacted by the gen
eral assembly Of Virginia, that an
act entitled an act to provide lin
certain cases) for the compulsory
attendance of children between the
ages oil eight and twelve years upon
the DuhlJc schools nf