American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-09-27
e,,,,.nondspec OF ,he Lancaster AmsA earelse.

weeks number.
In the case Of tho absence of pupils,
each teacher is required to inform him
self as to the cause of tho absence; that is,
to ascertain whether the pupils are absent
on account of sickness, detention by par
euts, or on account of Reir olVn prioote
Business. 1t is our rule never to lose sight
Of any one whose name has been entered
on the ,school-roll.
When pupil has been absent without'
the parent administers such
discipline as he deems proper, and the pti-l
pll also becomes subject TO the discipline
Of The school. Every case Of this kind is
reported to the Superintendent and re-
Ceivcs his personal attention.
Repeated attempts have been made to
have school on .sshow days" but the az
tempts have been invariably unsuccessful.
OF the several hundred pupils that we
have usually enrolled, very large major
i;y have always been absent on such oeca-
sions. Now II the parents are opposed to
the Shows" The most Of these absent pu,
pills have, Of course, been absent without
the leave Of the parents; so that on a sin
gle day We should have four or Eve hun
dred cases Of truahcy. The truth, howev.
er, has, onenquiry been found 10 be. that
tine: larger proportion OF the absentees have
had permission from their parents to stay
out Of school. while, nevertheless, a con-
siderable number have been absent contra
ny 10 the wishes Of their parents. The
teachers aud superintendent have, there
fore, impossdupon them. on one of these
occasions. the impracticable labor Of in
vestiga.ing several hundred cases Of alb
srnce and of furnishing several scores Of
truants. a E f ~
n Another thing to be considered is, that
most Of the few who are present attend to
their studies unwllingly, and are, conse-
quently, but little benefited by their attend
ance. "a
But, suppose that those who are present
engage cheerfully in their studies; they
cannot, when their classmates return, be
permitted to 70 forward, and leave their
classmates; for this would at once. double
the number Of classes. Tie teacher must
therefore, thus address those Of his pupils
who have foregone the qualification of at
tending the owl" Children, l am
highly gratified with tho evidence which
you gave yesterday of the interest that you
take in learning; but, nevertheless. as a
penalty for having spent the day in intel
lectual improvement, instead Of having de-
voted il 10 profitless amusement, set you
back one day in your studies. Your class
mates lost yesterday, and have, conse-
quenlly, fallen behind you; but / cannot
divide the classes. therefore punish you
for their fault, by requiring you to remain
stationary Tor one day, in order to give
them an opportunity ofovertaking you.
In view of the difficulties above repre-
sented the conclusion arrived at by mem
bers Of tho Board and by sundry citizens
on several recent occasions was, that till
there should be some manifestation Of n
general change in the apparent views and
feelings Of parents in relation to this mat
ter. il would be useless. ard worse thar
useless, to attempt to have school on days
Of any great or unusual public attraction.
can assure "a Tax payer" that th'
teachers are as much opposed to the ordi
nary shows as he is; and that they do no
regard bis disapprobation as being to'
strongly expressed. Simple exhibitions o
the works, either Of Nature or Of Art dc
serve encouragement to certain extent
But most Of the entertainments presente
, by the companies OF vagabonds that al
, swarming over the length and breadth {
, our land exert n pernicious influence 0
; the morals Of the rising generation. Thing
: have come 10 such pass that collectio
{ Of animals can no longer DO exhibited e1
Y cept in connection with some objections
: concomitant.
: am glad that your correspondent ha
t called the public attention to this impol
tant subject. Surprising that all the show
: and entertainments that come along wei
= entirely unSxceptionable In themselves,
: it right TINT parents should on all occ,
$ sions, indulge their children in sightse'
/, ing, especially at the sacrifice of precior
/. time, that should be devoted to edit
'f cational improvement?
;, BY tho permission Of the Board Il
i teachers willrenew their attempts TO kee
o up the schools on "show days" II pa
4 ents perform their duty we shall be SUI
: cesslul. If parents are remiss the atteDp
r will necessarily result in failure.
n JOHN WILLIAMS,
{ Snpt, OF Public School
: To Andrew Fonst, John Chancy an
: David Lyle.
r GENTs:--As member OF our old an
+ time honored Democratic Party Of tn
!. county. put 10 you the following que
;. tions thro' the columns Of both the &C,
n zetto" and "Clippcr; fare youin fave
}. Of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise?
o | should have put this question TO 20
through the columns Of the Eagle" b,