Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-30
STRIKING PUPILS
NOT REPORTEDON
ABSENCE CHARGE
Compulsory Attendance En-
forcement Depends on
Board Ruling Wednesday.
ONE OF 7 "VALID"
EXCUSES MAY prevail
II OF SIS Ordered Transferred From
Park View to Monroe School
in Glass.

None of the children who have been
out Of class since their parents refused
last week to send them to the Monroe
School following their transfer from the
Park View School has been reported
to the department of school attendance
and work permits, although the COM
pulsory school attendance law requires
that the absence for more than two
days OF every child be investigated.
This was revealed today by Miss Fay
l.. Bentley, director of the attenda ace
Office.
Miss Bentley was asked if her cfice
proposed to take any action as a result
of the continued absence of celsid-
erably more than half of the SIS boys
and girls who were ordered trans
ferred, and she replied that no names
or cases had been reported to her by
the principal of the Monroe School.
Robert L. Haycock, assistant super.
lntendent in charge Of the elementary
schools, explained that none of the chill
dren had been reported to the school
attendance office because administrative
omclals deemed it wise to await the
action OF the Board of Education at its
meeting Wednesday. If, at that meet
ing, the action of the school officers in
setting up and abiding by boundaries
between the Park View and the Monroe
Schools is upheld by the school board.
it was indicated at the Franklin Build
ing today that enforcement of the COM
pulsory school attendance law would be
forthcoming.
Seven valid Excuses"
Not only does the school attendance
law require that the two-day absence
from school of every to IL year-old
child be Investigated, but it sets up a
list of seven valid excuses" for which
these children may be kept out of
school. They are:
physicians certificate may be required;
2. Death in the immediate family of
pupil;
s. Exclusion by direction of health
Office on account of quarantine, con-
tagiouS disease or other cause;
4. Subpoena by court of competent
jurisdiction;
5. Detention of pupil by civil author
tiles;
8. Observance of church holy days by
communicate thereof, and
z. Unusual emergency.
The last OF the excuses is the only one
which, according to Franklin School Of
ficfals, may possibly be construed to per-
NIT the poStponement of definite action
in the enforcement of the attendap0e
law. Under the provisions of the law a
parent or guardian who is convicted of
permitting the absence of a child within
the prescribed age limits and without
one Of the valid excuses" may be fined
SIS or sentenced to five days in Jail, or
both, at the discretion of the court The
law further prescribeS that each two
days of absence shall constitute sep
arate ofenSe. Most of the children have
been absent from school since last We'd
nesday afternoon.
IL In Monroe Class
Seventeen of the transferred children
were in class at the Monroe School
today, according to figures made public
by Miss Blanche Beckham, principal.
At the same time, it was reported by
Miss Emily Scrivener, principal of the
Park View School, that practically
all" of the transferred children appeared
at that building seeking admission
again this morning. Miss Scrivener re-
fused to admit them and they, with
the parents who accompanied them,
left the building after few minutes.
Some Of the parents of the trans
ferTed children announced last week and
reiterated today their determination Of
sending their children to private school
rather than submit to the edict OF the
school officials. This determination,
they say, will be put into effect after
Wednesday If the school board that
afternoon refuses to order the rescind.
ment Of the transfer.