The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1922-08-11
Mike Pappenfus Plead Guilty
10 Violating the School Laws
DOLlN AND ATTY. II. w. GREER
TRY TO MIX POLITICS.

During the last part of the school
term taught by Miss Emma Crone
in the Cookery school in the RAYMOND
district, Norbert Pappenfus, pupil in
the eighth grade was reported absent
from school and did not obtain ex.
euses. The teacher in so reporting
performed her legal duty imposed up
on her by law. It is high credit to
Miss Emma Crone, teacher in said
school, that she had one of the best
attended schools in the county and
that she strictly eooperated with the
Superintendent's Office in the enforce
n1ent of the attendance laws. Writ
ten excuses were requested by the
Co. Superintendent, and when ex-
cuses We're reasonable no report was
made to the superintendent office.
Norbert Pappenfus, not being four
teen years Of age, was kept home
Immediately after writing examina-
tions and it was reported to the office
that Mrs. Pappenfus thought this
could be very easily accomplished
since there were only about eight
days left of school and the school au-
thorities would not have an oppor-
tunity to take the matter up and in
vestigate the violation of the law.
This is in substance what was stated
to the teacher, Miss Crone. It is a
matter of fact that during the years
1920-21 that Pappenfus had several
times requested permit for his old
er boy, Clarence, to remain out of
school and help with the work on the
farm. At that time Mr.. Henry Good
man was the teacher in the Corkery
school. The County Superintendent
consulted with Mr.. Goodman as to the
advisability and necessity of granting
a permit to Mr.. Pappenfus to keep
his boy home from school. Mr.. Henry
Goodman advised the office that it
was unnecessary from a financial
standpoint for Mr.. Pappenfus to keep
his boy from school to help with the
farm work. Mr.. Pappenfus, as stated,
insisted upon keeping his boy home
for the purpose of work and this Of
fee took the matter up with the State
Department and Mr.. Pappenfus was
refused a permit.
Prior to this Mr.. Pappenfus. had
evaded the school laws by keeping
the boy home two days and sending
him two days. According to the old
law no parent could keep child out
Of school over three days and accord
ing1y, the teacher was required to re-
port absences to the County Superin-
tendent after three days. When the
writer was elected to the office this
matter was reported from various
places in the county. The law was in
terpreted that no one had the right
to keep any boy or girl out OF school
a day or fraction of day without a
proper excuse.
It appears from every reasonable
source that Mr.. Pappenfus was finan-
cially able to employ help and not
steal education away from his child
rem by keeping them away from
school. This office frankly acknow-
ledges that it has been lenient, in
most cases, with the farmers and
working people during the last years
hardship in obtaining hired help, but
at no time was it granting permits
to keep childrn below fourteen years
of age home from school. In order
to expediate matters this Office has
given the authority to the chairman
and clerks of their districts to attend
to matters of excuses. The same OF
course to be appealed to the County
superintendent Office or to other le-
gal remedies. Mr.. Pappenfus at no
time availed himself with legal per
1nits. He was fully acquainted with
the law as shown by his former
evading of the law. The correspond
ence in the matter is given below:
May 13, 1922.