Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 29 August 1879
Education Act at Denaby
Patrick Mannion, collier, was charged with breach of the Education Act in neglecting to send his two children regularly to school.
The case was conducted by Mr. Downs, attendance officer, of the Doncaster Union.
From 8th July to 4th August, 34 attendances were possible, and they had never attended once.
The defendant’s wife who appeared to answer the summons, said the schoolmaster refused to take them in, because they were not sufficiently well clothed, and she could not clothe them any better as she had 11 of them.
The bench dismissed the case, as the woman appeared to have done all she could to carry out the Act. The case might be brought up spin, and the schoolmaster summoned to answer as to whether the charge made by the woman was correct.