Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-07-08
CONDITION OF THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
During the year ending Iune II, 1881.

The summary of statistics shows an
/ enrolment Of COS pupils in all the de
! partmentS, with an average daily at
tendance Of 40. This enrolment is IA
less than that Of last year, and nearly
100 less than the year previous. The
average daily attendance, on the con-
trary, has gained with each year, thus
more than compromising for any dimi-
mutton in the number registered. The
average attendance for 1880 was 435.
and for 1879, when the enrolment
| reached 700. was but AT There is
reason for encouragement in this in
crease in regularity of attendance, but
the highest possible results are not vet
| attained 1t is no difficult matter with
the aid of little more parental infiu-
enee to increase the daily average from
the present figure, - per cent, to 50 per
cent. or even higher. The First Pri-
mary departments have a larger intlu-
ence in diminishing this percentage
than any other. While it is true that
less of regularity should be expected
in these departments than those having
older pupils, it is not true that there is
good reason for all the irl egularity that
| exists. Wrong theories, or no theories
at all. rather sheer neglect, indiffer-
ence on the part Of parents, will ac-
count for some part of the difficulty.
When child is old enough to go to
school at all. he is old enough to form
the habits OF regularity and punctual-
ity and the formation of these habits
is as important Il part of his education
as any other part that he gets at school.
The High School shows i larger mem
berShip than at any previous year. the
nnnlhnr rp1plinEr EQ hn @0p
of those admitted to the High School
was H. AS the time seemed i fayora-
bic one, the course of study for this
department has been, by the action of
the School Board, extended over four
years. 1t is hoped that the interest of
pupils and parents will justify this
action by making the number who will
remain long enough to complete this
course rs large us possible. AS large
numbers Of the pupils never attend
other schools than those at home, it is
most desirable that the advantages
offered them here should be rs good as
they can be made But unless sufli-
cient number Of pupils interest them
selves in this advanced course to justify
the use Of the time Of the teachers,
necessary to do the work of the higher
classes, this extension Of the course Of
study will be Il wrong to the lower
grades, and will make it necessary for
the Board TO rescind their action. Pa
rents are urgently requested to lend
their influence i'll making this new
feature Of the High School 4 success.
1t will depend largely upon them
whether il shall be successful or not.
The boy or girl whose parents are en-
thusiastic in regard to education, IS not
often Indifferent about the matter.
The new course of study is published
in the catalogue Of the schools Just
issued, and the public will have ample
opportunity to examine it.
Strenuous efforts have been made by
partmentS to attend during the entire
absence or hardness. The following
ceeded in doing this: Eta Cray, Clara
Neal, Leila Prideaux, Nellie Case, Ella
Prisk, Thomas PIisk, Mary Lutey.
The example and influence of this class
Of pupils are worth much to the schools.
Many others than these are equally de
serving of credit, as their efforts have
been quite IS great; but they have
been defeated through no fault of their
own. Were the names of those whose
attendance has been perfect through
whole terms instead of tile year, given
here, the list would be very much
larger From this brief review Of the
condition Of educational matters in
Mineral Point. the public may get some
correct notions, but those who are in
tereSted will not rest satisfied With
what may be published: they will visit
the schools when they reopen and see
for themselves. 1t is wholly unneces-
sary to say for the information Of any
one that they are yet defective in much
that goes to make the perfect school.
Would the public like to know what
they most need? Come, when the next
term opens, and see. In the meantime
if any one wishes to consider the opin-
ions of others who are deeply inter
ested, it will rot he improper to state
here for his benefit that the first, press
ing necessities are more pure air for
the children to breathe during the Win
ter, when external air cannot be largely
used, ard more good miscellaneous
books for them to read. The latter, it
is not very difficult to supply; but
where is the benefactor who will sup
ply the former? j. IL. TERRY,
Dripoipal