Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1920-12-16
MUST ATTEND SCHOOL. d.
Parents Excuses for Children Ere
QuCntly Not Satisfactory.

school that considerable laXity cX-
listed In the excuses sent in by pa
rents to explain the absence Of their
children. THAT was absent
because l kept her at home" may
satisfy the teacher. but 1t does not
satisfy the law, and parents are made
liable to the penalty. Certain points
OF the law are quoted so that all may
understand the requirements:
Every parent, guardian or other
person having charge of any child
between and IA years OF age must
send such child to public. private
or p&rochial school, or to n compc-
tent tutor. subject to the approval of
the county superintendent of educa-
ton, Tor four consecutive months.
Upon written petition II majority
of the qualified electors residing in
any school district requesting the at
tendance Of pupils on school through
out the full term, the county board
OF education shall order such at
tendance hereunder.
That any private or parochial
school attended by any child be-
tween and Il years of age shall
first be approved by the State board
of education. Such school must give
It's instruction in the English LAM
guag". and it must teach such sub
jects as are required in similar pub
lie schools in South Carolina.
The county board shall appoint
| such attendance officer or officers us
the needs of the public schools of
the county may require. The duties
of such attendance officer shall he
to take annually Il school census of
all the children in each district be-
|
md to file with the county
board of education Il report giving
by school districts the name of each
such child. the race the sex, and the
names and local addresses of each
| child's parents.
That it shall he the further duty
OF each attendance officer tn rcccixe
from the superintendent or priEcipal
or any school within the district or
territory the name OF every child
between and II years OF age uh-
sent from school and ascertain from
the parent or guardian of such child
the reason for such absence. If due
TO other than proviGentiul cause or
to such cause as would seriously en-
danger the health of the child such
| parent or guardian must be notified
| to appear before the nearest magis-
| tratc at n special time TO show why
he or she should not be punished
for his or her neglect: Provided,
| That the attendance officer may in
| his or her discretion excuse any alb
| senc2. a full record OF such eX-
cused absence, together with the
reasons therefor. shall be fled
monthly with the county supcrin-
! tendent of education.
other person having charge of any
child subject to the provisions of this
act who wilfully neglects or refuses
: to comply with these provisions shall
| be guilty of misdcmeanor. and.
| upon conviction before a magistrate,
| be fined not less than IS nor more
| than $40 for each offcnse. Chat
such fines are to be paid into the
| school fund of such district in which
| the said offcnse was committed.
THAT it shall be the duty of each
| teacher, principal or superintendent
| OF any school to notify at once the
| after dance officer of the absence of
any child between and IA years OF
| age from school, and any teacher
wilfully neglecting or refusing to
| report any absence to the attendance
| officer shall have deducted from his
OF nSr salary lot the current HlonIh
| $5 for each offense.
"ln case of a widowed mother or
a crippled father any child above
| IL years of age whose labor may be
| necessary for the support, in whole
| or in part. of any person may be eN-
| cused. The parents of children un-
| able to purchase the necessary books
| for attendance upon n public school
shall, upon the order OF the county
| board of education, be furnished
| these books out of the public funds
| ot their district"
The county attendance officer has
written the following about excuses
| . Work is not considered u legal
| excuse, and neither is illness in the
| family unless serious. Children will
| not be excused for visiting. going to
| town, caring for baby while mother
| is away, etc. We will not accept
| trivial excuses of any kind. All chill
dern to IA years of age must at
tend school every day unless illness
| or something makes it impossible for
| them to do So"
The citizens of the Fort Mill school
district voted that the compulsory
| attendance term be nine months
and consequently all the children
OF the district within the provisions
of the law will be required to be
| present at school every day for the
| nine months unless providcntially
| hlndered. Each teacher has n copy
| of the compulsory attendance Law
and Il supply of -excuse blanks that