The Washington times., 1926-03-08
A Transient

A Transient
''It is charged that you. being
the father of child between
seven and sixteen years Of age,
did fail to cause said child to at
tend public, private. or parochial
school, or to give private instruc-
ton to said child.
Teacher: producing the attend
ance-record book: He has at
tended school one-half day since
February 4. your honor-that was
the day he registered in my
class"
How old is hep.
Son: "I'll be sixteen next June.
I'm in Z 3 grade.
Assorted Alibis
Attendance officer: ''I called at
his home. your honor, and he
couldn't go to school that day be-
cause he had "a headache; the
next time. his mother had to
mend his pants she said; then
he didn't have any shoes; then he
had the toothache. made ar
arrangements for him to have his
teeth attended to by the clinic,
without cost. but he was absent
the next day. and / got out a
warrant for his father.
He has two sisters in the same
school, but in different grades,
and their attendance isn't much
better. But If all their teachers
were to come here at the same
time, they'd have to close the
school.
so I've only brought charges in
the case Of the boy"
I'VE Are Seven
Dad: "I have seven children.
all Of school age but one, and he
works with me. make $3.50 a
month, and the children have all
the clothes they need.
Are the others in school
now?"
81 hope so. / leave home at
o'clock mornings that's before
they're out OF bed. 1 can't tell
what they're doing when I'm 10
miles away at work. don't get
home until 5 at night, and
don't know whether they've been
to school or not. There's no rea-
son why they shouldn't be-
Wants Equal Rights
The court: s'The law should
send the mother to Jail as well
as the father. You go to work
thinking the children will be in
school, and they put 1t over on
their mother, and the law sends
you to JAIL"
"I can't stay home just to see
the children. go to school-T'd
lose my job. =
a Deadlock
.sYou both have your hands
full-you working from to 5,
and the mother with seven chill
dren to look out for. It's nc
picnic, but the law must be
obeyed. I'll continue the case one
week
TtThere's no way / cam be sure
: they're in school. your honor"
There's no way can avoid
sending you to jail IL they stay
out"
A Two.NTontI1's Margin
This is another school case
yourS honor She'll be 16 years.
old next April .
Witness: I'm her section
teacher at Central High School
.She's finished the eighth
grade, them"
Yes ma am"
Cease dism-''
Can't Stay Home With Mother
Assistant Corporation Counsel:
I'VE submit that the case comes
within the provisions of the
statute, If the court please. The
law says that children under 16
must attend school unless they
are employed, whether they have
finished the eighth grade or not.
''I consider that a bad law.
It's expensive to keep children In
Central know"
The Old, Old Story
There may be doubt as TO the
wisdom OF the law. But there is
no doubt that it must be obeyed,
WEI submit"
Parents might not be able 10
buy books for their children
THAT would be an extenuating
circumstance, your honor"
what is the penalty for viola
ton of this law"
Ten dollars or ten days in jail
for the parent for each day the
child is absent from schooi with
out valid excuse"
do you want me to send your
father to Jail for an indefinite
period, young lady?
And When She Won't, She Won't
"Oh-er-no. No. But 1 won't
go TO high school"
Dad-"I simply can't make her
20, your honor"
THE law doesn't recognize that
as an excuse. ! You must send her
to school-or make her go to
work"
1--WE got a job told daddy
about it last night.
when do you start to work."
'Pd have gone this morning II
they hadn't brought me here"
eff you leave your job it'll cost
your father $40 a day. The law
gives children that authority over
their parents"
Case continued, subject to call.