Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-04-07
Our Union School-Tho Importance Of Reg
ular and Large Abundance.

ulaI Anu Large Attendance.
At the annual masting Of our Union Schosl
Drtrct, "Wednesday evening, the subject OF tho
attendance of scholars was considerably discussed,
but so few we're present that it may b. Of some
service to give the public in our village some Of
Ike facts which were elected.
The whols number Of person, between the age.
Of four and eighteen years in the district, /, $50.
The daily average attehsa1ce on The schso during
The past year was 300 The number Of different
scholars during Ihe year WAS abost 452,-thoush
probably somewhat greater than that figure. This
average attendance and the attendance OF differ
snt scholars, were much smaller IN proportion to
the whole number Of scholars in the district than
The same attendance in the other di4r.oI, in tovn ;
and as consequence Of this while The Union dis
Irct drew ets than one dsar and half Of pub
ilc money toa schoor, tho other district, drew
some ofthem,f not sll,-.ov.r tive dollars Iii quite
evident from those facts that, il va consider cur
poeS'" alone, it i, important such mea'urs.
be taken " can properly, to "elre larger aver
age sttsndalee upon the school hereafter.
We kno" that, ia village like this, there will
always be more scholars out Of ,ehsol than in the
smaller districts, away from the village. More
boys under IL years Of age are Inclined, or com.
PEELED, to do duty as clerks, or in some similar e.-
pscIty, than in such districts, and possibly more
young alies are sent away to finish their cducA.
ton" at some "boarding school, No.withsand.
ing th'se diminstion', however the great bslk Of
absentee" ara tho's who nigh! and would be 10
school, il they or their parents could be made to
comprehend the importance Of it. Many ofthese
are among the foreign population, though enough
OF Ihsm, We fear, are among our own nationality
But considering all these difficulties 10 bo over
come, the fault is mainly our own, if large mum.
ben OF children are allowed, without an effsrt, to
absent them,elvs, from the schoolroom
What shall be done' Bata trH, more than
cne-half Of the scholars in the district attend
school, the average number Of ab.entees being
within twenty Of the averIg, number present.
The owl demsndi remedy. But as we have no
law in this State by which attendance at school
can be compelled, the work must be accomplished
by other Instrumentation and We are endeavor-
ing, by this article 10 attract attention to it, and
il possible, awaken an active in;erst. in the sub.
Jet. We do not expect that all, or nearly all,
scholars can be brought iato tbs school, but tn.
average attendance ought to be raised to at least
400. II $50 different scholars are present during
the year, daily attendance OF 400 ought TO APP
pear upon the record. Ana while re have no
plan, at present, 10 propose We trust that the
friends Of educAlion, as well As those who pav
the taxes, will set on foot some scheme BY
which the $50 ab'entee' ora large portion cf
thom, may be got into the ich,ol-room and when
the district generally can b, mals to understand
the importanos Of th,, th, work will % half lc-
complihsd The meeting authorised the Pu-
dental Csmmittos to take such measure, A., in
their judgment, would conduc, to ihi, result, but
they cannot accomplish il alone Tbs people
must take hold Of il.
We have not spoken Of the benefit,
to tbs scholar and to the o1nnsniiy to flow
from more genera attendance upon the school,
nor Of the syil, vhioh come from allowing chill
drsn to run about the streets when tssy ought to
be at ,sme profitable study. Ne hope Tiers !,
no need to sallrgs upon this iscensivs. II 1t i,
worth while to have schools al al, it is worth
vailS to to bring directly within their iiAsenos
AZ mHsy children as possible and hs ssnmsniiy
understand thin whsn lhsy eve the subject any
confederation all. Asd having new 60! Al tbs
iiois, which they we're before dous.sts ignorant
Of, We think they cannot hil 10 make a better
showing in the school registers for ,hs year ia
come.
Wsmay add here, lest any one ,hosll sup
pc" from our remarks that ,h, attendance on
tn. school is d'crsi'ng, that svch /, net the isst
The iv,r,gs attendant" FOR the PSI, yssr was Il
more ,haa for the previous year. But th. H.
crease for the coming year cas, and ought TO b..
made much larger.
The 'ubJ.c. Of sriine" vn also spoken Of at
th, meeting, and rule was adopted to admit ne
scholars who should be late al mhoo, eIc,p, uu.
der such regulations as the Committee may pre-
scribe. This We considers very important rslc
and We trust parents and guardians will give the
Teachers and COMMITTEES the aid Of their inis.ncs
to make it efT'c'ual in securing promptn,m ia
attendance upon the daily sessions of the school
NOichoar should be tardy without good excuse
and the len who are tardy with such excuse, th,
better. The ruls valuable one, and ". ara
glad to see it adopted.
-. 80 s------