SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THE PICNIC LURE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 128, 24 February 1919, Page 4

SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THE PICNIC LURE

TRUANT OFHVER INTERVENES,

F.leven persons appeared in the Juvenile Court, before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., on Saturday, charged with failing to send their children to school. The children were kept away from school on February 5, the occasion of the watersiders' picnic, and action was taken by the Education Board's attendance ofhcer. Mr. J. W. Butler stated for some years* the practice had grown up with some parent* to keep their children Irom school to attend the many trade, picnics held during the summer months. In the cases of those summoned on Saturday the parents were not in any way connected with the Watersiders* Union, and had kest their children from school to attend the picnic, and this on the second day that the schools opened- after a vacation of twelve weeks. The absence of the children had interfered with the work and discipline of the schools. The cases were brought as a warning to all parents that children were required to attend'school every half-day the school was opened. The frequent absence of mfinv children to attend the various picnics'in which'their parents were not interested was a serious .matter for the status o£ the schoolsAll the defendants were convicted. At the request of the truant officer the case 3 were adjourned for three months, when, if the attendance of the children is satisfactory, the cases will be withdrawn.