River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-06-30
Review of Our Public School.

Falls public school, address ed to the
School Board by the Principal. Prof.
Hosea Barns, viii be of interest to our
village readers:
TO the Honorable School Board Of
Joint Dist. No. /, River Falls and
Troy,
GRNTLEMEN:-It seems fit |
ting that a brief review of the school |
for the past year be presented at this |
time; and it is assumed that the facts !
and figures herein set forth will be
suggestive and valuable in some small
degree at least.
l. Including holidays, the school
was in session 100 days during the
school year of 1880 and 81.
2. The number of pupils enrolled
in all departments was 305, of which
l58 were boys and l47 were girls. OF
these, two boys and two girls were
over twenty years of age. No pupils
under four years of age were enrolled.
3. Six of these pupils were non-res-
idents, and should have paid tuition
to the amount of $l7.10. Of this
amount the principal of the school
collected but 1910.
4. The whole number of days at
tendance was 9,l64. making an aver
age of 90 days to each pupil enrolled,
or but 60 per cent.
This brings us at once face to face
with the greatest obstacle to progress
we have yet encountered, namely:
Irregularity IN attendance. No truly
graded system of instruction can live
under such circumstances. Whatever
the cause of thls irregular attendance
| may be, means to effect a cure must
be found aud rigidly applied, or the
attempt to perpetuate graded school
| will prove abortive, and School Board
and teachers will be simply acting a
farce. If those who attend so irregu-
larly were the only pupils injured the
case would be sufficiently deplorable,
but it is rendered doubly so by the
fact that those III regular attendance
are injured very nearly as much as the
absentees themselves.
1t is believed that the School Board
have the power, and it is within their
province to exercise it, to secure a
much better attendance, and better
results in teaching.
5. There has been mach hardness
in the school, the whole number of
cases in all the rooms being 538. The
remedy for this evil is the same
as for that previously named. Trifling
as this matter of hardness may seem,
those parents who recognize the fact
that one of the important ends of
school discipline is the formation of
| good habits, cannot do otherwise than
lend a helping hand to teachers i'll
their efforts to mitigate this evil.
6. In scholarship, it may be said
that pupils have done as we'll as their
irregular attendance would warrant,
which, however, is but fraction of
what ought to have been accomplish
ed. The time and money expended
ought to enable us to make much
| better showing. But, let me ask,
qchat result can be looked for in the
case of pupils who attend school only
| three days in five, on the average,
while yet claiming membership and a
seat! Many pupils have really made
excellent advancement. as the result
of continued and we'll directed effort.
| They may rest assured that their
teachers appreciate them, although
their names are not mentioned here.
They need no such distinction. Their
reward is sure.
7. In work during the year, the
| teachers have concentrated effort
somewhat in these three directions:
LIST, To induce habits of Honesty; I'd,
TO induce habits of SeLfRelidnce; 3D.,
To add to the ability of pupils in the ex-
preston of thought. The teachers feel
| that in these particulars, their labors
have not been wholly barren of re-
suits.
s. Books have been supplied to all
pupils free of charge during the year.
They have been well cared for, and
considering the use to which they
have been subjected are in excellent
| condition. The amount of fines col
| lected is $40. The progress of pu-
pills in their studies has been greatly
favored by the existing system Of free
| textbooks.
9. In the matter of department,
the pupils n general are worthy of all
praise. The girls have been ladies
and the boys have been gentlemen.
The very few exceptions are known
to the school board, and names need
not be mentioned now.
10. Especial pains have been taken
to care for school property. The alb
solute freedom of all walls and furni
| ture from marks, and the small
amount of breakage during the year is
sufficient evidence that to some extent
at least labor in this direction has
been effective. And just here it is
proper to say that to the janitors
much credit is due for the wholesome
and creditable condition of buildings
and other school property.
IL. To the citizens of the district,
and especially to the School Board,
the teachers feel under the greatest
obligations for their continued sup
port, for their substantial evidences
of friendliness and for their unvary-
ing courtesy. Such tokens are not
forgotten. Yours truly,
HOSEA BARNS.
The senatorial fi0ht at ALBANY con-