Litchfield enquirer., 1874-10-15
so the reason they do not appear is in consequence of the imperfect manner in which several of the registers are kept.

so the reason they do not appear IS ln consequence of the imperfect manner in which several of the registers are kept.
 Although the list contains larger num- Der of names than were reported last year, yet one of the most serious evils that teachers have to contend with IS the general irregular attendance of scholars: and this va find by reference to the last Report of the State Board of Education is an increasing evil in this town. By this report we find that for the winter term 1873 we ranked as the 46th town in the state and the 4th in the county "when the average attendance is compar- ed with the number registered while the report for 1874 shows that we rank the 18th town in the state and the 17th in the county and further showing a de- crease of ten par cent when the two years are thus compared.
 In several of the districts during the past year the average attendonce has been only about one half of the whole number registered. In other words there has been an average absence of all the scholars for one half of the days the schools have been iH session as may be seen from the following returns from the registers
 In the Town Hill district. Winter term Whole number 53. Average attenaance 35. Summer. Whole No. 52 Average attendan a4.
 North St. Summer term Whole No. 21. Average attendance 8.
 Less than cue half of the number regis tered.
 East Chestnut Hill. Summer
 Whole number 26. Average attendance F.
 Less than one half the number regis. tered.
 l Mt. Tom Winter Whole number '. Average attendance 4. Summer Whole number Il. Average attendance 3.
 Which is less than one third the nnm- Der registered.
 | Milton. Summer, Whole number Al. Average attendance 9.
 Marsh. Winter, Whole number 12. Average attendance 5. Summer, Whole number 15. Average attendance 6. Northfield Center, Winter Whole No. | 45- Average attendance 26. Fluteville, Summer Whole No l4. 1 Average attendance G.
 Guernsey Hill, Summer Whole No, 16, Average attendance 8.
 Nearly all the districts show an eqaally bad record with the exception of Harris Plains and the Depot school. This grow evil.i our sshools needs the careful atten- tion of parents cit:zens teachers ana school officers.
 There are undoubtedly some instances of thrancy without the knowledge of pare nts But in the great majority of cases it re- suits from the indifference or cup,dlty of those having children in their charge. From whatever cause it results, it's effect 1 IS disastrous to the welfare of our schools. Another evi! in our schools is that scho- lars are crowded into text books too advan- ced for their comprehension. Scholars have been found studying the Common school Arithmetic who did not know the multiplication table and could not add column of figures without counting their ingela.
 In reading classes have been found using the Fifth and Sixth readers whom they conld not read single paragraph without spelling out or being told half of the words Parents and teachers should see that schol- ars use books that are adapted to the!e capacity.
 In some of the districts the registers are carelessly and impropropsrlE kept. Full directions for keeping the 1egisters are given upon the second page of the cover. Teachers should see thatrscords are kept strictly according te the directions.
 In the Milton district no record of tar diness was kept during the winter term as required.
 Our public schools should ever and al- ways be the duty, pride and care of every citizen. The report oI the last United States census shows that ignorance, pov- erty, and crime. are everywhere through out the country, naturally and almost nec- essariiy. found together It is no longer position whether the State shall support free schools, but how we'll and thorough ly 1t shall support them. That it is our duty to give our public schools our earn est and liberal support there can be no doubt when we consider that those whom we are now educating are soon to hecoma our voters and our rulers. and that edu- eaton produces industry and wealth, while ignorance fills our jails, prisons and poor houses.
 Great, indeed, is the thought of our state, caring tenderly for it's children, through all coming time, regardless ot race, sect, or condition, but guiding all impartially towards the full development of their intellectual and moral powers, and preparing them for their greatest useful ness, and happiness as citizens of Chris tian republic. And snblime, too, is the recollection of our ancestors as in their weakness. their suffering, and the,r peril, they regarded no labor too ardnous and no sacrifice too great. to found in the new born colonies. the first asylum of free, equal and universal education the world had seen. With due sense of our duty to the future, may we remember our debt to the past. and feel stirred to higher ef- forts by the thought that :: 1.-The altar and the school still stand, the sacred pillars of our trust that Freedoms sons may fill the land, when We are sleeping in the dust" HENRY R. MORRILL,. Secretary Coard ot School Visitors.