The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-10-01

TIFFIN UNION ScnooLs.-We have
before us the Catalogue of the Tifin
Public Schools for 1869, a well
printed pamphlet oftwenty -four pages.
It contains the names of the gentle
men composing the Board Of Educa-
ton, the Board Committees, the
Superintendent, the schools and
teachers and list of the scholars in
attendance, giving their standing, etc.,
calendar of the commencement and
closing of schools for 1869-7O, and
the Superintendent's report to the
Board of Education.
There is much matter ofinterest in
Mr. Kirkwood's Report, and We make
as many extracts as our space will
permit, recommending the suggestions
to the careful attention Of all whom
they may::cOncern:
"The whole number of different
scholars enrolled during the year,
ending August 1, 1869 was $50;
529 boys and 461 girls. The aver
age weekly enrolment was 720; 381
boys and 339 girls. The average
daily attendance was 647 341 boys
and 400 girls. The per cent. of at
tendance Of the weekly enrolment
was 80 the preceding year it was
only 81. The average weekly num-
Der perfect in attendance was 54i.
The following scholars attended
aehoOl every halliday during the gear,
and 11ere not tardy: Bond Weirick,
Julia Paynter, Mary Hartman, Jacob
thinner, Amelia MOeschinger, Ora
Feighner, Charles Keppel, John
Hedges. The following attended
school every half day duri0g the year:
William Knight, John KcpPel, An
ME Boyer. The following attended
school every half day but one during
the year Katie Zeller, Efie Starts
man Mary Dickens, Carrie Stone. The
following attended school every half
day but two during the year: Minnie
Holt, Cora Zeller, Thaddeus Park.
The number Of visitors, not count
ing those who attended the public
examinations at the close of the year,
was 391 Several hundred patrons
and friends of the scholars attended
a part, or all, of the closing examin-
ations, and about l 800 attended the
graduating exercises, in National
Hall.
-
Irregular attendance is still one Of
the greatest evils with which we have
to contend. Many parents fail to real
ize the Importance Of sending their
children to school regularly, and |
therefore allow them to remain away
frequently for the most trivial rea-
sons. In this way children are train
ed to think attendance at school a |
matter &C minor Importance, and edu-
cation itself matter of very little
consequence. Beside this, habits of
carelessness and inattention are ac-
quired, which will affect them for the
worse throughout life. The school
also is injured. The time oe teacher
is wasted, and the class annoyed and
retarded by their ignorance of the
lessons recited during their absence
During the year just closed, however.
a decided Improvement has been made
in this respect.
Examinations were held as fre-
quently as possible. In the upper
grades they are chiefly written. They
have good effect in every respect
/ hope, during the coming year, to
make them more frequent and thor
ough than heretofore. The public
examinations, at the close of the year,
we're creditable to both teachers and
scholars, and satisfactory to ali in
terested. For the most part they
eVineed faithfulness and efficiency on
the part of the teachers, and atten-
ton and diligence on the part of the
scholars.
An unusually large number of the
patrons and friends of the schools
attended the closing examinations
this year. Those who were appoint
ed on examining committees discharg-
ed their duties faithfully. = =
:; But the parents of eoI.olsre
should not only attend the public ex-
ercises at the close of the year; they
should, also, visit the schools fire.
quently during the year. By so do
ing they will gain a much more intel
Iigent knowledge of the workings of
the schools. Such visits do good to
all interested. Teachers, scholars
and parents are all benefited. A
cordial invitation is extended to every
oneinterested to come at any time, and
witness the regular exercises of the
schools.
i i x x
In accordance with my recommen-
dation of last year, the tuition fees of
foreign scholars were appropriated
for library purposes. The teachers
also contributed small amount to-
wards the formation of a Teachers
Library. With money received from
these sources, one hundred and fifty
one volumes we're added to the
library, and twelve different School
Journals were taken during the year.
The educational periodicals and books !
belonging to the Teachers Library
have been, and will continue to be,
a great benefit to the teachers, The
books added to the general Library
we're very attractive. The children
we're eager to get them, and,[ believe,
as eager to read them. x x x
x x = x x
I wish to recommend most earnest
ly that some more definite and effect
i've provision be made for instruction
in Vocal music. All children should
be taught to sing. 1t can be done in
the public schools better than any
where else. A competent teacher !
can be secured at very light ex-
pense. In my opinion. the same
amount of money cannot be expended !
so advantageOusly in any other way.
The teaching of Voca! Music will
have good effect, physically, ment-
ally and morally. Scholars who are
taught to sing will study more dill
gently, and will behave better. I
believe it would pay to teach Vocal