The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-11-15

vering in study, and thus render himsel
oped in all of our schools. To be regarded
worthy of commentator; these in fact, at,
the very traits We most desire to see devel
as one Of the five best, - with these con-
ditions, is no ordinary commentator,
worth more than any prize that could BE-
offered. "a good name is rather TO be
chosen than riches" The results of this
measure. so far as it has been tested, have
been most gratifying. In some of the most
successful schools its good effects have
been most apparent. The competition
has been vigorous, each pupil endeaVor-
ing to do his best To many teachers it
has been duty of extreme delicacy to
make the awar.l. because so many had
done we'll and were worthy of common
dation, while the grand choice turns upon
the one that has been least absent or
tardy.
IRREGULAR1TY OF ATTENDANCE.
"We want our moneys worth" Our
people are generous to fault, in voting
supplies for schools. but are too careless
in using the advantages their generosity
provides.
10 visiting school in district report
| ing thlrly-nine children of legal age, one
pleasant day, found FIVE pupils in atten
dance! In looking over the district
clerks reports, we End seven reporting
less than One-half as the daily average OF
attendance In mary other districts the
average is low. In those seven districts
whose average is lees than one half, it will
no be far from the truth to say that three
fOurths of the money raised for The sup.
port of schools is practically lost, and
this resulting from the fault of the parents,
in neglecting to avail themselves of the
benefits Of the school. am aware that in
some cases sickness has detained many at
home, of course this is unavoidable, but
observation has proved that sickness is
not the main cause of this irregularity.
The pupil that is frequently absent and
tardy, not only suffers himself, but is a
drawback to each of the classes of which
he is a member, and is a source of dis
coursgement to the teacher.
1t has been habit 10 many families
not to get their children ready for school
before the second, third or fourth week,
and sometimes even later. aud then keep
then out day or TWO whenever there is
any work To do or any one is dsinclined
to go. No surer method could be adopt
ed to discourage the teacher and destroy
the efficiency of the school. 1t matters
not how good teacher may be or how
faithful, good school under the circum-
stances is impossible, and the failure is
justly chargable upon the parents. r.
regularity of attendance is one of the
most Pernicious evils affecting our Schools
and the most vigorous measures should
be adopted to lessen IL. The children
shOuld have the full value of what is ex
pended for their benefit The difficulty
arises from thoughtlessness-I say sheer
oughulessness on the part of the parents,
for surely no thoughtful parent would de-
signedly rob his child of that which is
of SO great value. The evil under notice
prevails most siArmingly in a majority OF
our schools. l might parricuisrize, but
the figures in the table need no comment
Almost every parent supPoses that the
excuse for the absence of his child from
school to be valid and sufficient, but each
should feel that the education of the child
is of paramount importance
COMMENCEMENT OF A TERM
District boards should see that the
school does not commence before the
children of the neighborhood can be pre-
pared to attend. Schools commencing
early in the season, say in September,
suffer greatly from sickness. The money
Is expended to no purpose. AS general
rule, in our rural districts, tits better 10
commence from the middle to the last of
October Than earlier.
SUMNER CHI OILS.
A summer school is OF little worth in
this latitude. Little progress is made in
study after the goth of June. The 4Ih|
of July will 6nd children knowing all
that hey can or will know ill after the
cool season comes.
DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
The adjustment of these has been
work of great labor. Each district clerk
is furnished with plat of his district.
The tewest changes possible have been
made. The tendency nov is, We believe,
in favor of large districts aud good
schools.
School BoeKs.
It may be expected that something will
be said 10 this connection in regard to
school books. This is a ve1ed subject,
aDd any preoipitate action will be attended
with irritation and bad blood. The IN
i.ness CT Wilson's Readers, as reading
books, has been settled beyond question
among the majority of teachers. Ed
wards Analytical Series presents per-