The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-10-11

scholars. Iour children receive their
school knowledge in this way. 1t is very
essential, for the progress of class, and
its individual members, tnat no scholar
be absent from single recitation; for,
frequently, the loss of single lesson may
affect scholars interest and advance
ment for whole term. Let me take an
instance to illustrate this. have class
in Arithmetic, and it is often necessary
for me to explain some principles, the
clear understanding of which. by the pu-
pill, will serve as key to subsequent les
sons. To-day occupy some time in ex-
planning some principles, to class of TWEEN
ty, of which your child is member, but,
unfortunately, an absent one. To-mor-
row be comes to school, but is unable to
comprehend and perform the exercises of
the day. What, therefore, must be done!
Certainly one of two things. 1 must eth
er devote time and strength, which be-
long to the whole school land which the
school needs, and repeat the explanations
given in his absence, or l must leave him
to grope along in the dark, as best he
can, and, probably, to become disgusted
with his school and its studies. He will
not only droop himself, but will exert a
withering and disheartening influence up
on the other scholars
Our schools cannot accomplish the
highest amount of good, unless the chill
dren are regular and constant in their at
tendance. How often is it, that scholars
of good natural abilities are connected
with good school, month after month,
and year after year, and yet make but
little, if any, progressl They retain seats
in school, and, when perfectly convenient,
and consistent with other arrangements,
they occupy them,-and do little else
They are neither prepared to enter reg
ular class, dor to continue there, If allow
ed to join. They feel no interest in the
school, nor in the studies thereof; and Of
ten, by their habits of idleness and mat.
tention, they become a positive injury to
the whole school. Teachers are inconn-
petent to impart any new light to such
comet-like pupils as some are;-comet-
like in some respects, but most unlike in
others,-they appear and disappear, but
when and how they will re-appear, no
mortal can predict, with the slightest de-
gree of certainty. A desirable interest
and fair improvement cannot be exhibit.
ed by children, who are allowed to be fire.
quently absent If the making or receiv-
ing of visits, the performance of some un-
important errand, or an engagement for
some momentary pleasure or qualification,
is allowed to tresspass upon school duties,
children will be taught, in the most un-
equiVocal manner, to look upon their
school as of triaing Importance. 1t is a
duty the most imperative, on the part of
parents, to train up their sons aud daugh-
ters to regard their school and its exer-
cises, for the time being, as paramount to
all things else. By being allowed to ab-
sent themselves, at first by permission of
parents. for some inc considerable purpose,
they will soon be tempted to let some fa-
vorite amusement draw them from the
school-roofh, and that, too, without the
consent or knowledge of their parents or
guardians, AS truants. Could parents
but realize the dangers that cluster around
the truant's path, with what care and
watchfulness would they labor to secure
the regular attendance of their childrenl
How earnestly and perseveringly would
they endeavor to instil into their minds a
IOUe for school, and its wholesome regula-
tions! Let US, for one moment, consider
the truants downward course. Think of
him as, for the first tiGe, disguised with
lessons which his frequent absences have
rendered him unable to comprehend or
commit, with trembling and faltering
heart he SO far stiles the voice of con-
science, as to disobey parents and teach
er, and spend the hours of school in idle
pleasure or wanton mischief See him as
he goes on, from step to step, until he to.
tally disregards the kind monitions and
advice of his best friends, and becomes
the associates of kindred and more de-
praved spirits, and, with them, becomes
an outcast from respectable society. He
hates his school and his teacher; disre-
CARDS, and even abuses his parents for
sakes the house of worship and the Sun.
day school; violates the Sabbath, and be.
comes seue'a days tr~anti Is not bis
case lamentable onei But the worst
and darkest of the picture is yet in pros.
pect From disobedience and truantism
he goes on to dissipation and crime. He
disregards truth. becomes profane and
dishonest, and plunges into the very vor.
tex of reVelry and vice,-becoming the
vilest of the vile, and basest of the base
Behold him, after the lapse of few short
years; bis mind corrupted and enervated
bis talents prostrated, and his physical
constitution amere wreck of what it should
have been, and might have beenl Iii
associates and partners in degrad alto,
have abandoned him. In view of hi
wretchedness and loneliness, he become
the desperate author of some crime. whicl
will call upon his ruin-dev ated head th,
just vengeance of an outraged eommunit,
and violated laws. His confinement as
base criminal recalls, IN some degree, BIZ
long-lost senses, and arouses him to
state of consciousness and remorse. Fl,
reflects on the past; thinks of his ono
happy home, of his beloved though
Il