The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-09-09
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
DISCUSSED WITH TRUSTEES
Trustees Recommend Compulsory
Date be Left to Each Local
Board.

The State compulsory attendance
law goes into effect with the open
ing of the schools this fall. We have
not a copy of the act before us, but
we understand that it provides for
the attendance of all the children be-
tween the ages of 8 and IA years
upon the public schools for four con-
secutive months, or 80 days, and
that when the compulsory attendance
shall begin is left to the county board
of keducation. There is provided an
attendance officer whose duty it is
to see that all the children are in the
schools as provided by the law. And
there is a penalty provided if the pa
rent refuses or neglects to send the
Children.
State Superintendent Swearingen
was present and delivered an address
at the meeting Of the trustees and
teachers called to consider the ques-
ton at the court house on Saturday.
Mr.. Swearingen said the new law
was a step in the way Of progress
and while it may have defects it was
not the purpose to discuss these de-
fects, but to get the best results
from the law that we could, and for
Ievery one to cooperate in the en-
forcement of the law and aid in re-
ducing illiteracy in the State. He be-
lieved in strict construction Of the
! law, and not in making an effort to
find out what was in the mind Of the
legislature when the law was enact
ed. Any statute should represent
crystalized. public opinion. Under
this law the county board is to fix
the time when the compulsory at
tendance shall begin. The trustees
fix the time when the school shall
open. The State board recommends
!! putting the law in operation when
the school opens. There were two
things that were necessary in our
school system, and they are, better
wage scale for the teachers and the
abolition of child labor. So far as
the, negro is concerned he should
have what is right, but the two ques-
tions of social equality and political
equality had been settled, and the
negro who fools with them is playing
with fire. The best cure for Hitter
acy is prevention, said the superin-
tendent.
Mr.. Wilson stated that IS school
districts out Of Sc were represented
at the meeting, and the board want
ed to have the trustees discuss the
matter and recommend to the board
when the compulsory attendance
should begin in this county. He ask
ed Prof. W. C. Bynum who was pres
ent and who is member of the coun-
ty board of Georgetown how they
had proceeded in that county. Mr..
Bynum said they had left the matter
to the local boards Of trustees.
The attendance officer for this
county, Mr.. N. L. Wessinger, was
absent, and it was stated that he had
Just married and had gone off on
trip.
Mr.. B. B. Leitzsey moved that the
compulsory attendance begin with
the opening of each school and con-
tinue consecutively for the 80 days.
This brought forth considerable dis
cussion and there was very great di-
vergence of opinion. The teachers
who were present were unanimous
in support of Mr.. Leitzsey's motion.
But there was so much opposition
that Mr.. Leitzsey withdrew his mo-
tion.
Mr.. H. M. Wiz Ter moved that the
matter of the oyening or rather the
time when the compulsory attendance
should begin be left with the trus-
tees of each district, and this motion
prevailed.
The matter is left with the county
board by the act, as we understand,
but not doubt the board will be gov
erned by the action of his meeting
and adopt the recommendation made.
Mr.. Swearingen said we should not
criticize the law but
In the first place the legislature
should have settled that matter in
the act itself, and then there would
have been no confusion and the peo-
pie would have gone along as mat
ter of course and followed the law,
even those who are opposed to it.
The legislature having delegated