Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1886-03-11

Sixth, Month of the school, Ending
February 2sth.
From the Supsrintendent's report for the
sixth month of the school, ending February
26th, We get the following items
Number of pupils enrolled...............520
Average number belonging. .4O3
Percentage of attendance. .93l
Average daily attendance.
Percentage of tardiness. .0O7
Number of Visitors. ........................75
OFFICERS.
Chief Officer K. Norfeet,
LIST Monitors Will Masten, Annie Grogan
End Monitors-Walter Nading, Pattie
Dobson.
3rd Monitors Elisha Crawford, Annie
Darlington.
4th Monitors John NJ Patterson, Carrie
Martin.
9TH Monitor-Lee Dalton.
9Th Monitors-Carrington Smith, Mary
Wiley,
7M Monitors -Thos. Reid, Gertie Brown.
Sth Monitors Blum, Alice Smoak.
LIST OF HONOR PUPILS.
Boys-Jas K Norfeet, Will Mastsn,
Walter Nading, J. T. Parish, Sam Rose,
Edgar Dalton, R. L. Patterson, Elisha Craw-
ford, John NJ. Patterson, Eugene Vaughn,
Darlington Smith, John Raimey, Alf. Cham
berlain, Thos. Reid, Rich. Happier, Peter
Blum.
Girls-Misses SaIlie Grogan, Minnie Og-
burn, Ada Roam, Daisy Thompson, Maggie
Vaughn, Pattie Dobson, Annie Stone, Car
RE Martin, Mary Niley, Cora Brewer,
Bertha White, Hattie Mar tin, Florrie
Brown, Rosa Fetner, Sallie Nading, Matte
Apple, Alice Snaoak, Efie Ector, Mahle
Gray, Lille Young.
The school is now much larger than it
has eyer been, and the work being done by
both teachers and pupils is quite gratifying
to report.
The greatest drawback to the attainment
of somewhat more satisfactory advance
ment of the classes as wholes, and especially
of those pupils who cause this hinderance,
has been, especially during the last two
months, the irregularity in attendance on the
part of some.
As may be seen from the statement above
the average number belonging" during
the mont was 403, and the average daily
attendance was 93.1 percent of this number
or 375. Anything below 95 percent should
not be considered satisfactory, while as much
as 80 may be considered very high. The
percentage Of attendance during the fall
months averaged over 90, reaching as high
as 81 during December. For January and
February 1t was 81 and SO, respectfully.
The cause of this falling off during these
two months is not difficult to find, for it is
almost wholly attribu. able to the notably
bad weather, being at times extremely in
clement and severe, though to some extent
1t may be accorded to the prevalent sickness
which was however due greatly to the
changeableness and inclen. ency Of the wealth
Already since the opening of the month
beginning LIST of March the average daily at
tendance has risen to a high figure, yet I
desire to take this opportunity, through
your body, to call the attention of patrons to
the great Importance, yea, the necessity of
regularity the part OF the children in Or
der to their most satisfactory advancement
in their studies.
1t is evident enough that teacher can't in
struct pupil, and that the pupil can't learn
what his class does, when said pupil is not
present, yet too often is the teacher held re-
sponsible for his non-adyaucenent-
When a pupil has been absent one or two
days each week, or two or three days in sue
cessien, it can hardly be expected that the
keep such one up to the standard of the
class, and using all reasonable efforts to this
end, shall, devote her time to the one, to the
detriment of the class. The pupil must en-
evitably suffer, and the responsibility, if any,
should rest where it belongs.
The pupils who do not attend school reg
ularly are those who do not progress salts
factorily, either to teachers or parents, while
those who are regular are invariably the
wi no aH war ra 3ci
results satisfactory to both parents and
teachers. Through your body, therefore,
would respectfully call the attention of pat
rops to this fact, and earnestly solicit their
hearty cooperation. Now, it is not expect
ed that pupil who is too unwell for school,
should go, and it is readily, and of course,
conceded that parents know best when to
keep their children at home, whether on
acccunt of inciemency OF weather, OF
sickness, or for whatsoever reason; all that
is besought is their earnest cooperation in
the matter, and that, too, for the sake of the
children.
\ largeqschool cannot eminently prosper
without talerably strict attendance rule
At best, many absences are uniustifable
and such school in such town can scarce
ly confer, aside from what is generally con-
sidered Its chief object. greater blessing
than to teach the young, habits of order
punctuaIity, regularity and strict attention to
business-habits which will last them
through life and have an important bearing
upon their usefulness and happiness -espe
cially when this is accomplished as only q
means to an end.
The number of visitors to the school con-
Times quite large. and they have three
fold influence for good. They stimulate
the teachers they encourage the pupil
they afford an opportunity to those visit
ing to observe the words of discipline, til,
methods of instruction, and to witness til,
actual work and note the progress Of tn,
pupils A cordial invitation is Standing t.
all to visit the school AT any and all times
The pupils who do well naturally love t
have their well doing recognized; thos
"slothful in business" need spurning 4
greater diligence.
I would go further than extending an in
yitation to patrons to visit the school.
would suggest that it is a duty of theirs, et
peciaiiy of those, if there be any such, VIII
have never yet visited the school.
Very Respectfully,
j. L. ToML1NsoN, Supt.
PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS.