The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-09-05
STATE CAMPAIGN
BETTER ATTENDANCE

If there is one school problem above
all others on which local, county and
state authorities should work this
coming year it is that of attendance
Tho Montana has had a compulsory
education law for many years it has
become almost dead letter in many
districts. During the last two years
the war and the influenza epidemic
have furnished more or less 1egiti-
mate excuse for leniency until lax
ness of responsibility Of parents and
school officials has become almost
appalling. In one of our richest and
most thickly populated counties one
pupil in every five enrolled had
dropped out of school the last of April
In some of the newer counties condi-
tions were even worse.
The law yalidates but three excuses
| (D bodily or mental condition which
| does not permit of attendance; (2)
satisfactory home instruction by a
qualified teacher; (3) distance which
in the opinion of the county superin-
tendent causes undue hardships.
Death in the family, contagious dis
ease in the home and a severe storm
should, of course, also be recognized
as legitimate excuses for work. dis
agreement with teachers and fear of
influenza after the epidemic had sub
sided were the most common excuses
given should have been accepted.
Very few teachers and patrons
seem to be familiar with the school
law in regard to compulsory attend
ance which now compels parents and
guardians having charge of children
between the ages of eight and six
teen who have not completed the
eight grade to send such children to
school "for the full time that the
school attended is in session and said
attendance shall begin within the
first week of the school term" The
legislature this past winter raised
the age limit from fourteen to six
teen years unless ''the child has sue
cessfully complete the eigth grade
as the same is designated and deter
imned by the state board of education
A fine of not less than five dollars and
not more than twenty dollars shall
be imposed upon parents or guardians
who fail to comply with this law.
Children under sixteen years of age !
cannot be employed by "any person, |
firm company or corporation during |
the school term and while the public |
schools are in session in the district |
in which such child lives, unless such
child shall present an age schooling |
certificate which shall be issued by |
the city or county superintendent or
principal Of schools. Any person,
firm, company or corporation employ
ing any child in violation of this law
shall be fined not less than twenty
five dollars nor more than fifty dol
lars for each and every offense."
In districts of the first and second
class the law provides for the appoint
ment of truant officers and in distrits
Of the third class county superinten-
1ents act as truant officers unless
3ther provisions are made. Every
child between the ages of eight and
sixteen whose name is on the census
ist should be accounted for, however
1istant his home NAV be from the ,
nearest school. 1t should be the re-
,ponsibility of clerks and teachers
o report cases of non-attendance to
proper officials Immediately and not
cave such reports to end of the
month.
1t is misguided kindness to show :
eniency for non-attendance between
he child is needed at home. All too
ften parents purchase additional land
With the express purpose of using
heir children to perform the extra
equired labor and with the full :
that their education must
Q sacrificed for the sake of more
cres. Sacrifices are made by many ;,
arents in order that children may
ave better school opportunities, but !,
here are many others who have nc !,
ision for their -cfiIdran. School ),
must protect the interests Il
I such children. Theodore Roose- S