The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-06-26

FROM this II Will be seen that the number or
pupils in the school has been constantly de-
creasing since the first year in the new house.
That this decrease 10 in number only. and not
in punctuality or regularity of attendance, is
shown by the items of Per cent. and Hardness.
The Per cent. of attendance is higher than any
Of the years before, and the Hardness this
year Is only about one-third as great as at
first The whole number, however. is reduced
to about what 1t was the last year in the old
building
In looking for the reason of this falling off.
the first thing suggested Is the decrease in the
school census. At the Annual School Meeting
Of 1870, the number OF pupils reported from
the enumeration just taken was AS. At the
beginning OF the present year the number was
432. Here is a decrease OF SO in the school
population OF the district. From the number
OF pupils withdrawn from the school during the
present year by removals from the district,
Judge that the census will be still less at the
next enumeration. Another reason for the
reduction is that the enthusiasm produced by
the new house has subsidized in measure. On
opening the building for school. small and
large, young and old came in and swelled our
attendance far beyond what it had ever been
before. Many came In who had not been to
school for years. All this has gone, and the
attendance has fallen down to about the usual
number for districts Of our population. There
fore, however discouraging this decrease of
school children and school attendance may be
IA r1a fba Of tba acbnn1 anl ha
town, 1t does not indicate that the school has
refrigerated in character. on the contrary the
examinations just closed indicate a greater
proficiency in the work through all the grades
than ever before. At the close OF the year
when we had the largest attendance POI pupils
were passed on their examinations. This year,
with examinations equally thorough, 215 were
advanced
While our attendance is better than that OF
many or perhaps most schools, there are never
theless many cases of unnecessary absence
Pupils frequently are permitted by parents to
be absent on the slightest pretext, and some.
times with none at all. | suggest the propriety
Of the passing by the Board of some stringent
rule in this matter. Almost every school Of
any consequence has a regulation by which pu-
pills may be suspended or expelled for wilful or
unexcused absence. believe such measure
here would do away with very much Of this
needless absence which ia source of so much
annoyance.
l would suggest also that some steps be
taken to create greater degree of interest in
the work OF the schoo-room Months go by
without single visit from parent. No school
can attain TO the highest excellence without
livey interest and frequent visitation by parents
1t spurs both teachers and pupils. and excites
zeal that can be produced in no other way
II a committee Of visitors could be appointed
for the whole school or for each department,
perhaps an interest might be started that would
spread.
It is quite natural that should, on leaving
the school with which have been so long con-
nected. feel more than ordinary anxiety for its
prosperity. Here are conferred the chief in
terests OF this town. l commend them to your
constant care and watchfulness. Hoping that
the some steady and uniform support which
you have always given me may be transferred
undiminished to my successor, and that all may
have reason to take pride in the school more
and more as the years go by am
Very Respectfully, n. A. EARLE.
Paw PAW, June 90, 1874.