The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-09-14

was, much reduced, falling below that
of the corresponding months OF the pre-
vious year. This can be accounted for,
not on ground of any lack of effort on
the part of teachers tosecure regularity
of attendance, but as the effect Of a
change of article eight, of the Bylaws
of the Board. Said article, as it now
stands, makes it in no manner obliga-
tory upon parents to require their chill
dren to be regular in their attendance
at school, but Instead, leaves it entirely
at their option to send them
ever SO irregularly. They are
in no manner required to
explain the absence. In fact the
parent may allow his child to be absent
for play or pleasure full four-fifths of
the time, or four days of every week,
and the teacher has no alternative, but
must receive him as a pupil for the re-
naming day, providing the parent send
note stating thatthe absence was "by
his authority" Without entering into
a discussion of the extent of authority
on the part of the Board to prescribe
rules regulating school attendance,
shall venture TO assert, that majority
of parents, in the absence of a compul-
sorry rule upon the subject, will not I'M
frequently allow their children to be alb
sent from school without a shadow of
necessity therefor. The principals and
teachers in the schools see and feel the
evils resulting from the change made in
the rule, and believe, without eXcep-
tion, would be glad TO have the former
rule re-enacted, with change of one
word only: unavoidable" for "neceS-
Sary."
l have visited all the schools of the
District once, and some of them oftener,
since they reopened on the I'd inst. The
attendance is fuller than ever before
at the commencement Of the scholastic
year.
The new school building in Webster
township, which, it was presumed would
be adequate for the wants of the town
ship for several years to come, is full,
and it has been found necessary to turn
away numbers of applicants for want OF
room.
find in the Grammar school of Cen
tire township every seat occupied, and
the G and d divisions of the Primary
be. In the A and b divisions there is
room for a few more pupils. Yet the
school houses of the two townships,
Centre and Webster, are not sufficient
for the wants Of both Mt the present
time. A necessity already exists for ut
least two additional rooms in Webster
township. .-.
In the Grammar school of Union
township there are yet few vacant
seats, but the several divisions of the
Primary school are full, and it has been
found necessary to employ an assistant
teacher in the division.
In the schools of Clay township the
rooms are reasonably full, none of them
being crowded to excess, and all with
exception perhaps of the Grammar
school, quite as full as they should be.
The same may be said of the Seventh
Ward or Island school.
Both rooms of the Second Ward
school are crowded to excess, the teach
er in the u division having nearly one
hundred pupils. find in both rooms a
number of pupils from other wards.
These, in my opinion, should not have
been admitted, and had l authority
should discharge them at once, since
there is more room in the schools of the
townships in which they reside.
1t is perhaps unnecessary for me to
speak of the condition of the first ward
and Clinton schools. 1t is sufficient to
say that they are doing quite as we'll as
can reasonably be expected. | hope
there may be no unnecessary delay in
extending relief to this portion of the
district.
The seats in Fulton School are all oc-
cupied, and few more are needed.
The school is in a healthy condition.
Respectfully submitted.
+. S. WILLIAMS, Superintendent.