The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-11-02
To the Patrons OF the Woodsfield
Public Schools.

desire TO call your attention to tbs
importance of the regular attendance o.
tyour children at school.
Do not detain them at home for triy.
ial causes. A first-class Graded Schoo
cannot be successfully maintained, if pu
pills are permitted to be absent from one
TO three days every week, to attend pla.
ces Of amusement. Neither can it be
properly managed, under the most skill
ful supervision. if pupils are allowed tc
leave school at irregular hours TO dc
"chores."
| Absence from recitations and school
duties not only retards the progress oil
absentees, and is embarrassing to teach
ers, but in bringing delinquent pupils UP
10 the standard necessary for them to
fmsintsin their standing and rank ID theil
Iclasses, extra time and attention mus,
be given, thereby robbing faithful pupils
jof that which justly belongs to them
Permit me to say here, that all lessons
Iand duties omitted on account of irreg
ular attendance must be made up. oI
degradation in scholarship, and demo.
lion to lower grades and lower schools
will be the necessary result.
II absentees and indolent pupils are
not male TO take up their own prope.
level by themselves and alone, they will
drag entire schools down to the same
low plane, and our boasted system oi
graded schools with high school stand.
ing at the summit, will be such ouly in
name and not in fact.
thrust our School Board has selected
q corpse of live and enthusiastic teach.
|ers. In some Of these teachers are
combined high literary attainments
thorough professional training, and
waved and large experience. But with
all these qualifications they can do but
little unless you lend your influence, and
identify yourselves with them in all our
educational interests. take this op.
portunity to respectfully invite, and ear.
nestly solicit you to cooperate with me
and nv associate teachers in such way
as to secure the regular attendance OF
your children at school every day. See
10 it, that they are diligent in the prep.
aration of at least some of their lessons
at home. DO all in yonr power to at
tain these two objects, and l promise in
behalf Of our teachers, that at the end
OF the scholastic year, marked results
will he seen.
Our schools have opened. out grandly,
with good attendance In the aggregate,
and with fair prospects; indeed | may
say the outlook is quite promising; and
the we'll directed efforts of both patrens
and teachers will bring rich returns.
Now that the Fair is over, let the at
tendance Of our pupils be uninterrupted.
Do not let amusements obtrude them
selves upon the prosperity, harmony and
good order of our schools.
During all the term upon which We
have just entered, do not take your chill
dren away from school to make visits
xhroad, or to attend places Of amuse-
.ment elsewhere. A prominent teacher
of our State recently remarked to me,
and verv aptly too, that it would require
three weeks of constant vigilance and
effort TO counteract the evil effects of
the 'show" recently given in the place
where be vas employed I would say
in conclusion that as to both the qnan-
tity and quality Of The material suitable
to the building upof system of first
class graded schools, I will say in all
candor, that in nv judgment the youth
of Woodsield compare favorahly with
those of any town Of The same size in
our State
Let US have their presence at school
then every day, and with your hearty
concurrence and encouragement we will
make our public schools the pride of our
town. Let US make them just what they
should be,-the peoples College"
where the rising generation, rich and
poor alike are fully prepared and fitted
for the faithful and intelligent discharge
Of the duties of citizenship.
Reafi this article; reflect, resolve, act.
Respectfully submitted,
r MAXWELL BoGGs. at