The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-07-04
Original Communication.
THE TEACHERS ADVOCATE.
"COmpuIsOry Asfendance.,,
ARTICLE NUMBER TWO.


! Mr.. Eiit0r-We find in your issue of the
| 18th inst. an article from the Teachers Id
| cOcate entitled compulsory Attendance. .
which appears to be intended as a reply tc
our article published in your issue of the
| 23d of Nav
Were it not that the subject In controversy
| Is one of great Importance, as touching the
rights and liberties of our people. we should
deem it unnecessary to take any notice OF
their reply.
The editors of the Adoocats we trust. will
pardon US for saying that we have seldom.
If ever, read controversial artical on any
subject IN which is to be found such iun-
BILE OF afirmations, denials and evnsions, as
is to be found in their reply. OF the justice
of these remarks, however, the reader will
Judge.
The gentlemen start out by expressing
surprise as to what induced US to put their
head on our article. As they have failed to
comprehend we fear @e could not enlighten
them.
We shall endeafor to notice the ssrond
points in their reply, seafdtiDa, notwithstand-
ing the confused and disorderly manner in
which it is put together.
First-"R starts out by asking US Eve or
six questions which, as they are cnhrezy II,
rel0cent, we pass over without further re-
merk-"
Now let the reader judge as to the relc-
vancy of these questions. Here they are
1st- When children are irregular in their
attendance, do you know whether or not the
teachers take the trouble to inquire of their
parents as to the cause I'd. Is it, or is
il not, obligatory on teachers to make such
inquiry2 Sd. If it is, are you not aware
that 1t Is seldom made 2 4th. IF it is not
r,f
how are they to know. when a child fails
to attend regularly that 1t is playing truant,
or that its absence cannot be accounted for
through q justi6able or excusabIe cause
9Th Has not the teacher the right to pun
ish child for playing truant, as he would
for any offence committed in school
Although we are somewhat surprised that
these gentlemen should hazard the assertion
that these questions are entirely irrel1Ueat,
in their reply pablished In the advocate. we
certainly never dreamt that they would risk
such ap assertion In the columns of the Free
man, unless by delay of three weeks in re-
plying to our structures they had hoped your
readers would entirely overlook the peril
nency and relevancy Of these questions to
the subject in controversy. Why, gentle
men, not permit the readers of the Adrocots
to judge as to the relevancy of these ques-
tions 2 Is it not an insult to their intelli-
gence for you to decide tor them, without
giving them an opportunity to Judge for
themselves If they are entirely irrelavent
certainly it would be easy for any person of
ordinary ability to show It. But let us see
if they are irreIavent- Does not J. Newlin,
Esq, head the cable document" which he
read before the Convention Of County Super
intendents "Irregularity of Attendance in
Schools ~ Does not the whole purport Of
that article consist In advocating compul-
sorry enactment by the Legislature as the
only proper remedy for the evil 7 Is not
your article in the May number Of the Teach
ers' Adcocate headed irregular Attendance2 n
And do you not in that article advocate
Law as the best, If not the only,
remedy Z VIII you. gentlemen, dsny this 2
And yet in the face Of your own article, and