The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-01-14


at 5000. About ono fourth of thatnunber ar,
between the ages of and 2lyears. Cincinnati
with an estimate population of 225,OOO, esti
mates over 100000 between the same ages
nearly one half its population, why this differ
ence? The number of different pupils enrolled
in the schools during the term is 92S-th,
average daily attendance, 7l5; average daily
absence, 81, average enrolment number be
loning 772; percent Of average attendance OF
total enrolment, n, on the average enrolment
o., percent Of absence on average enrolment
s. Pupils are enrolled Immediately upon ent
ering school, and are not considered withdrawn
from the school, until after an absence of
days, unless it is positively known, in case O.
absence, that pupils have permanently with.
drawn from the school, in which case their en-.
rollment ceases with their attendance.
The average daily absence, and the percent
of absence, is but little morethan one half q
great as for the same term last year, this
marked improvement is believed to be largely
owing to the notification ofparents, in all case:
Of absence, on the part of pupils, as no other
rules have been in force except the pupils la
bility to take the loss of class position.
The per cent. of absence is found nCroghan-
vile, Wood St. and John St. Primaries varv.
ing in these schools from IL to IS per cent
whilst in the other schools of the city, it avera-
ages about 6 per cent, number reasonably
small. The number of cases of hardness has
also been reduced nearly ono halt, although it
is still discouragingly large. The means re-
sorted to, prevent hardness, have been noti-
fcation of parents, in all cases, and The refusal
to admit pupils, tardy more than three times,
in any school month, for any half day that
they wore thereafter tardy during the term.
Only Il pupils have come under the operation
Of the latter regulation.
The greatest proportionate number of cases
of tardiness have been in Wood st. and Gro
evansville Primaries, amounting in these
schools to two and seven-tenths cases to each
pupil belonging and the last number in the
Central Primary and in John st. Primary
amounting in the former to two tenths and in
the latter to 4tenths cases per pupil belonging.
Making some allowances for inaccuracies in
reports, the question arises, why under the
same general regulations, then should be or
10 times less number of cases of tardiness, in
some schools, than in others of the same grade?
or why then should be so much more absen-
teeism in some schools than others? This is
chiefly owing, perhaps, to the greater pains
taken by some teachers, to bring every case of
tardiness and absence home to the knowledge
of parents, and to make tardiness and absence
unpopular in their schools. A reduction in the
number of cases of tardiness, as also in the
number of cases of corporal punishment, is
certainly desirable in some of the schools.
There is no disire, however, to hobby the
items Of attendadce and hardness, or TO eznlt
them into undue prominence, as if the max
imum of attendance and the minium of tardi-
ness were the only evils to be aimed at in our
schools.
Special attention has been given to the sub
ject of map drawing, blackboard and card, by
construction Inns, and by parellels and meridi-
ans, and without giving it and disproportionate
share Of tins, or acting upon the principle
that it is the exclusion method of teaching
geography, very satisfactory results, it is be-
lieved, have been secured.
Something has been effected with other
kinds of drawing, the drawing Of forests leaves,
&c, and it is believed an excellent work may
be done in this direction, in the lower grades of
school, in cultivating habits of observation Of
nature, as well as the acquisition of skill in
drawing, without at all interfering with more
practical studies.
Arrangements have been made at the be-
ginning of another therm, to introduce Bar
tholomews drawing states and cards, into the
primary schools, and his drawing books into
the higher grades, on special terms.
This intrduction is not to be forced, but to
be left entirely optional with the pupils; and
drawing is to be taught, without trespassing
upon the time Of other studies, during the wri-
ting hour, and in connection with writing,
with which it is thought, it should go hand in
hand.
For the first time in the history of our
schools, an effort has been made TO teach mu-
sic as a science To this end musical slaves
have been painted on all the blackboardsS and
Blaclman's recently published graded song
books, placed in the hands Of teachers.
The theory of these books is to teach no song
in them by rote but every thing by note. All
the schools have commenced with the primary
book. The work has but Just begun, but it has
been carried far enough to justify the belief
that, by devoting not to exceed ten or fifteen
minutes day, to the subject, vocal music may
be successfully taught as a science, in ou1 P ub-
lie Schools; even by teachers that are not sin
gers or MUSICIANS themselves. That this is
desirable needs hardly to be argued, in view
of the importance of music as an educational
power, and of the fact that all that the vast
majority of youth will ever know ofthe science
of music, will be learned in the Public Schools.
The seeming inpracticability of teaching mu-
sic, without a special instruction, has prevent
ed its general recognition as a branch of study,
/ the Public Schools. We shall look with in
tele3 to further developments in this connoc-
ton.
Oral instruction in members, has been
pretty thoroughly systematized, in our Pri-
mary and Secondary Schools, and we con-
fdently trust that our teacherswill be able to
show better work at the close of the year, in
this connection than ever before.
We are also seeking to systematic language
instruction, on the work of giving practical
lessons in the use of language spoken and
written, and the art of composition prior to
the commencement Of the study of the science
of language, or grammar. We shall devote
particular attention to this work, during the
remainder of the year
Our teachers arc taking special pains to
beautify their school rooms and make them
attractive by means of pictures and house
plants,
According to teachers reports, there have
been but two cases Of tsrdiness, on their part,
during the term, although several teachers
have, on several occasions, failed to be present
at their school rooms 90 minutes before the
hours for the commencement Of school, as
required by the regulations.
Receipts for foreign tuition Slij,40.
Gross receipts Of School entertainment,
about $1,000.
W, W, Ross, suPt,