The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-12-05
WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


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Geatlemen ofMe Beard Of Eaueasioa:
SIRs: Permit me to submit my report for
the quarter ending November %, 1873, con-
tanning few facts that may be in degree
valuable to yourselves and our patrons at
large.
The schools thus far have been character
lied by marked degree of discipline,
promptness and advancement OF pupils 10 the
various departments.
am happy to reporta good degree Of i'm
provement in the per cent. Of attendance as
compared with former years.
There has been hut little nuctuation, the
majority of,he pupils have lost but little time,
yet we have few who have been out enough
to materially impair their progress.
The permanency and regularity In the at
tendance of kuch large proportion is the
chief evidence OF our progress and prosperity.
But while can speak thus favorabiy Of nint .
tenths of enrolment. the non-attendance OF
one-tenth is an actual drawback to us. and Of
no advantage to the pupils themselves.
1t appearsto be difficult to have some pa
rents realize the great and true importance of
punctual attendance,
Some will send TO school when they can
spare their children from home, or when the
weather is too severe for them to work 9TH
ers show their lack OF appreciation OF pune
tual attendance by allowing their children to
remain cut when anything the least exciting
comes along. and for many other causes equal
ly as unreasonable.
lrregularity IN attendance Is most likely to
occur with pupils who are least interested in
their studies, and who, from want of oppor-
tunity or from Indifference, have never been
aroused to feel any relish for study, reading,
or any other intellectual pursuit. Such being
in the majority Of cases the dullest and most
backward pupils need every day and hour OF
school 10 keep up with their classes. A pupil
o! the more energetic class can better be
spared day now and then without special iu-
jury 10 himself or disturbance to his classes.
Such pupil is seldom absent.
presume no school difficulty has received
SO much attention in our educational periodi-
Gals, and none is so often called up for discus
sion in teachers meetings as hardness Ii is
indeed, one OF the most trying and veXaiious.
The causes are numerous in the pupil and
more numerous in the parents, and vastly
more unmanageaLe. Tarjine.s in our schools
like Irregular attendance is confined almost
wholly to . certain few families, and did
some parents realize or care TO know what
great inconvenience TO teacher and irrepari-
bic damage to pdpii is occasioned thereby,
what demoraliziug effect it has upon our
school work, and all our Efforts TO imp!ant
within the minds of their children the princi
pies that will go to make them men and
women, prompt and reliable iu their every
act, they would join us In our earnest efforts
TO overcome this one great school evil.
Chronic grumblers who are never satisfied
with any thing, or any body, form another
source for petty annoyance. They want
something and scarcely know what. They
chiefly constitute the classes from whom
and tardiness, and from the same .source
comes also iour-iiths OF pupils not advance
ing" doing no good at school, ''teacher 70
account, ''''iree America, no right to ask my
child to be pun ctuai," and while thus they
talk they arc the greatest affection we have
10 bear and The source OF the majority OF the
opposition we have 10 contend against. They
are always most positive in their assertions.
yet were never known 10 visit the schools and
see and learn OF taeir progress and true con-
dition. i dwell upon this point rs it is con-
fesscdly TIE bane of ali schools, and should be
discouraged and surprised by the Board and
all those interested 10 the prosperity of our
schools
The discipline OF the schools Is cGnsiaered---
" those who have visited aud noticed our
manner OF conducting OF i superior charic-
er. This is noticeable not only in the several
departments, but in passing through the balls |
MO and out OF the building and on the play |
grounds, the pupils engaging in proper
while quarreiing and lighting
ire almost unknown.
The examination at the close of the quarter
lives the most satisfactory evidence that the
yoik done ia the various departments Is in
Iced most crcGitadie 10 teacher and taught,
nd in the main satisfactory. l. ias seldom
,een our privilege TO witness greater effort
o excel or more faithful discharge OF duty
hsn las character zed both teachers and
upils.
The icllowing-named members OF the Board
ave visited tie various departments Of the
chool during The quarter: NJ. w. Levy, NJ
. Adams, c. Il, Miller, IA. l.. Jackson and
Z. Harris In addition to the above-named
artles num5er OF the parents of pupils have
isited "a from tim: to lime.