The Wahpeton times., 1918-04-04
KEEPING CHILDREN OUT OF
SCHOOL,

Keep cn1ldfen OF the compulsory
school age out of school during the
coming seeding season. When this
must be done, we would strongly
advise that county superintendent
and school boards first endeavor to
have spring vacation longer than
usual and have 1t during the seed
ing season. For schools beginning
about October and having a nine
month term. vacation of four or
five weeks could be provided by hav-
ing schools continue about July 18th.
Where terms are seven or eight
months, it would be necessary to
have schools in session until the
last of June. In such case. boards
could very properly pay the neces-
sary living expenses of teachers dur
ing this longer spring vacation or
pay the equivalent in travelling ex-
penses to and from their homes. if
preferred. Ii. the spring vacation
cannot be so lengthened, or length
ened. sufficiently, the procedure to
follow where parents and guardians
are compelled to keep children Of
compulsory school age out OF school
to work is for the parents or guardi-
ans to consult with the County Su-
perintendent Hanson, and then ap-
ply to States Attorney Forbes; as
the new law provides that this par
ticular excuse. actually necessary
to the support of the family" must
be passed upon by this officer. If
the permission of States Attorney
Forbes Is secured, it should be Civ
en- in writing, naming the children
and their age and grade. and the
length of time for which they are
excused. according to statement re-
Gently given out by State Supt. N. c..
Macdonald. Many inquiries are COM
ing into his Office regarding this
matter. and he is advising all such
to follow the above suggestions and
directions.
'As you know. it is most urgent
as wartime need that we increase
our acreage this year. and especial
ly for wheat. But it is also true
that large numbers of farmers Of
the state have suffered one or two
serious crop failures which have
placed them in a position wher they
are unable to hire help. even II it
were advisable. This being the case
county superintendents and states
attorneys should exercise the utmost
care in safeguarding the best inter-
ests OF the nation. and at the same
time the rights Of school children.
For this reason there should be
no wholesome granting of permis-
sions to leave school. Only those
should be permitted to stay out of
school who are actually needed to
work in the fields and who are old
enough for the work. 1t is hoped,
however. that by lengthening the
spring vacation where feasible and
by having later closing that school
children whose parents find it neces-
sary to keep them out of school to
work will have the opportunity to
complete their years work during
the month Of June. when there is
little or no farm work to be done"
said Supt Macdonald.
The Times believes that the above
Is a matter of utmost importance to
school directors and parents and
while such a plan might succeed in
some counties of the state. and even
In some districts in Richland coun-
ty. there are two objections:
Ist-Even If the school directors
should be willing to pay the teach
er's expenses during their vacation,
many would be learning and few
would return to teach during the hot
summer months.
2nd-In Richland county, June
and July are fully as busy months as
April and May. As soon aa the