by Laurel | April 6th, 2010
April 7, 1910, page 13
Are Attending Moving Picture Shows During School Hours Too Much
The opening of several new moving picture theaters has made it necessary that measures be taken to prevent hte boys of the grammar schools from leaving their school buildings to educate themselves along other lines by visiting the motion picture shows. When thee were but few shows in the city it was far easier to keep watch of the pupils, but since so many have opened up it has been seen that something had got to be done for it was claimed that three truant officers could scarcely keep track of the pupils scattered though the several shows and do their other work as well.
The matter was brought to the mayor’s attention bu the school board and the mayor has promised to see that there will be a stopping of attendance of the pupils during school hours. While there is no law, seemingly, aside from the truancy laws, which forbid it, yet if the proprietors of these shows persist in allowing school children to attend the shows during school hours it will be an easy matter for the mayor to revoke their licenses, which action will be taken if there is much more bother along this line.
While there were a few children noticed at the shows this week, yet the number had dropped off to a great extent and it was stated that those present were from quarantined houses and that those children for that reason would not be allowed to attend school. Just why a child who lives in a quarantined block and is not allowed to attend school should be allowed to form one of the audience in a moving picture theater is not fully understood and perhaps would call for a little investigation wither by the board of health or by the police department. It would seem that with the presence of mothers with their infants at these shows, that a boy from a quarantined block would not be quite the proper thing from a health standpoint.
From the Springfield Republican.
