The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-06-28
Total number scholars ........
TEACHERS AND SALARIES.
Seven teacher. with salaries of 49,. So,

Seven teachers with salaries OF ,O40
COST OF EACH PUPILS TUITION.
On total enrolment ............S "a
On average number belonging ......... so
On average daily attendance. .......... 10 W
BY an order Of the board at tho beginning
of the year all the children under seven years
as well as all persons residing without the
district, were excluded from the privileges OF
the school, and yet it will be observed that
the total enrolment is a very large per cent.
OF those reported by the school census, be-
tween five and twenty-one.
The Board of Education having established
no rule fof determining the number belong
ing, attendance, etc, that rule has been fol-
lowed which is adopted in most OF the cities
and towns, viz dropping pupils from the
rolls after an absence OF three consecutive
days. Absen:eeism, or irregular attendance
is one of the evils with which we have had
greatly TO contend. No one not perfectly IA
miliar with school work can fully appreciate
the hindrance to systematic work and classh-
cation afforded by an irregular attendance.
While parents have, no doubt, in many in
stances been at fault, consider that very
large per cent OF this difficulty must be at
tributed, mainly, to these causes, which causes,
it Is to be hoped, will not occur again. First,
the crowded condition Of our schools during
the first four months; second, the Interrupt
ton on account of the sickness which pre-
vailed in the months OF February and March.
The matter Of tardiness has also been sore
evil, and though orr teachers, one and all,
laborei dillgestly to cure it, still the cases
reached the enormous number 1863.
a leading aim OF the year has been to de-
fine the work of the several grades, or classes
to establish, so TO speak, objective points, to
which classes should work. then review, pass
examination and, il satisfactory, 80 on to the
next. Having TO teach in my own depart
ment more than three-fourths OF my own
time | could not give so much attention to
this work, and particularly to the part per-
tanning to examining, as was desired, yet
tell assured that there is abundant evidence
that substantial progress has been made, and.
Notwithstanding the irregular attendance and
Interruptions already referred to, the school,
as whole, has been brought into such shape
that little or no difficulty need be expert
enced in the organization at the beginning OF
the next year. During the last two weeks OF
the school, somewhat to the neglect oil my
own classes, | spent ssmy entire time in the
work Of examination. / Examined, person.
ally, all the pupils, 25S in all, remaining in
school at the time. As the result OF those ex-
aminations, 1i0 pupils were promoted or adj
yauced to higher classes; thiriy-two were al
vanced eonditi onally, aud the remaining eish-
ty-six were not promoted. \ large majority
Of the last numer were pupils who have not
finished the work Of the lowest primary
grade.
In the matter of grading some little legisla-
ton, on the part OF the Board, is necessary;
Unless the Board OF Education defines the
work and makes it a matter OF law, "A change
of teachers will, ordineriiy, produce the
same effect that it does in the average rural
district. and when a plan of work has been
devised and adopted it is since rely 10 be
hoped that last years work will be mapped
out just the same as 4 first and second, and
when the entire work provided for ihas been
accomplished a certificate, or diploma. recit-
ing the fact should be issued by the Board of
Education. The diploma is the one great Gin
centive that h as held thousands of young
men to the end OF a college course. Not the
highest motive, il is true still the most effect
i've. SO, also, certificates from Boards OF Ed
ucation, stating that the possessors thereo
have satisfactorily completed the prescribed
course, have been made to DO equally yalu-
able service in the peoples college,
Respectfully submitted,
OF. MCKIM, superintendent.