Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-15
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

Many tax psyers-older people gener-
ally-complain that while we expend
large and increasing sums for educational
purposes, the results secured are not so
satisfactory as they were IN those carrier
DAYS. when the three Rs were alone
taught in the common schools.
we are inclined to think that there
are grounds for this complaint, though
we do not agree with a distinguished
writer that the Common Schools are
failure. The results attained to-day,
are not in proportion to the increased
expenditure. Nowhere is this more evil
dent than in the villages of Maine,
School houses are located every mile
or two on all the travelled roads, and yet
the average proficiency In studies Is rot
80 high as il was years ago, when scho'-
an travelled six miles 10 school More
terms of school are held, better teachers
are employed, and better wages are paid
We, the interest in education has grown
less year BY year, in rural districts and
in most villages.
From ten wears observation and con-
versa,ion with teachers of both village
and country schools, we are lei to be-
heve that the greatest source Of loss Is
from the irregular attendance Of scholars.
Our parents tell as Of walking four or SIX
miles TO school during the cold of winter
or hea, of summer, without losing day.
The records Of older teachers, show a
greater regularity of attendance than
anv or few modern teachers can boast
Of.
In regular attendance at school, may
be found proficiency and progress. In
;-rec-,lAr attendance lies ignorance and
.pnersciality. When scholars attend
regularly, thew keep an interest IN their
studies, by generous competition and
rivalry. They learn every lesson and
allow Others to supercede them only by din,
Of hard study or superiority Of intellect.
On the other hand. the irregular student
Is left behind his regular competitors.
Being so left by inferior intellects' dis
eouraees him. He loses heart and in
;ere.,. skips from one lesson to third.
skins over the books, dipping IN here
and there, learns nothing thoroughly and
graduates Ounce.
There can be no remedy for tins state
Of affairs except in renewed and Popu-
lar interest in education and IN the
schools by parents, citizens and tax
PAYERS. Compulsory educatian laws are
valueless in the country. No one Will
enforce them against his neighbor, and If
he did. the result would not be healthy.
Parents must be led to see the bad effects
Of allowing their children to attend II
regular, and 10 enforce constant attend
ance. We believe that many times
children STAY AZ home for the simple
reason that parents are too hstleSs and
thoughtless 10 refuse the request. II they
were obliged to furnish written excuse
every time their children remained a,
home we believe that absentees would
become more regular attendants. We
recommend this remedy or assistant rem
edv 20 the teachers of Oxford County.
Parent will be slow 70 write johnnie
staid tn hum today cause be wanted
tu." which is really the most common
and truthful excuse. Parents will think
!, less trouble TO force attendance than II
Will be 10 write an excuse for the day TO
come. To supplement this, the teacher
must make school interesting, and lie, the
pupils see that they are gaining knowl-
edge with every session, and every effort
should be used 20 arouse new and gen
era interest in education.