The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-30
Walnut Hill, Newest But Most
Progressive City, Has Such
Unique Distinction.
CARRIES BY A
THREE-FIFTH VOTE
County Superintendent Will
Strive to See That Every Pro-
vision of Law Enforced.

Walnut Hill, one of the newest but
most progressive of the younger COM
munities in the country; has the dis
tinction of being the first district to
pass a compulsory school attendance
law.
The school term at Walnut Hill has
already opened, and through funds
obtained by special tax levy. two
months, July and August. have been
added TO the regular school term,
which opens September 23.
This law has been pasted by a
three-fifth vote and County Superin-
tendent Edwards declares that he will
do all in his power to see that it Is en-
forced to the letter.
Through the act providing for COM
pulsory school attendance enacted by
the legislature of Florida, should three
fifths of the votes be legally cast for
compulsory school attendance, then
the compulsory school attendance
laws shall be in force in such terri
tory for two years, zor forever there
after until another such election shall
be held. The period of compulsory at
tendance shall commence with the be-
ginning of the school term nearest the
eighth birthday of each child, and
shall cover a period OF six consecutive
years thereafter.
Continuous attendance Upon some
other school. public. private. or church,
for eighty days of each year during
the ages of eight and fourteen of any
child may be accepted in lieu of at
tendance upon local public school.
provided that any private or church
school receiving for instruction pupils
between the ages OF eight and four
teen shall keep such record of attend
aRce.
The xemptions are in any case
where the child's physical and mental
conditions. as attested by "any COM
petent physician before any court hav-
ing Jurisdiction under this act. render
it's attendance impracticable or mex
pedient. or in any case where the
child resides more than two miles by
the nearest Travelled route from the
school house, and transportation Is
not provided: or in any cases of ex-
treme noverty, in which the services of
such child are necessary for it's own
support or the support of it's parents
as attested by the affidavits of its
parent or parents. or of such witnesses
as the attendance officer may re-
uuire: or in any case in which said
narent. guardian or other person hav-
ing charge or control of a child shall
show before anv magistrate by af-
fidavit of himself or of such witnesses
as the attendance officer may require.
that the child is without necessary
books and clothing for attending
school: provided that when books and
clothing shall be provided, through
charity or by other means the child
shall no longer he exempt from school
attendance under this provision The
act provides. further. that when a
teacher is charged with inefficiencv
misconduct. or cruelty such charge.
shall he made in writing and filed
with the trustees Of the speial tax
school district. or with the board of
public instruction by parent or
guardian Of snv child attending the
school being TAUGHT bv such teacher:
then the atte-aTnee Of the child shall
not be enforced until after fun in
vestigation Of sflch chareez he's beer,
made hv the hoard with which the
same was filed and the said teacher
has been ACQUITTED or exonerated''
It is the duty Of every attendance
officer to take an accurate census, of
every child between the ages of six
and twenty-one wears in his district