The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-25
THE ATTENDANCE ATT CITY SCHOOLS.
Special Attention to be Given This Feature-Ob-
servations for Parents. Pupils and Teachers.

/
DR.. Stevenson, superintendent of city
Schools is quite anxious that the pupils
shall attend the schools regularly Owing
| to many causes the attendance last year
was by no means an average, as good as
he was anxious to have it. This year
among other things that will be watched
closely will be this feature, and he espe-
cially desires that the average attendance
will be above that of any other city of the
state The forthcoming report of the
work last year contains many valuable
suggestions, on this topic, for the parents
and those having an interest in the school
work. 1t is as follows:
There are many reasons why the attend
ance of the school-going youth should be
regular doing the entire school year. The
location of the city is healthy. and the eli
mate exceptionally salubrious. There
were only two or three days which could
be regarded as interfering with the at
tendance of the most delicate constitution.
There Is, perhaps, no city IN the whole
country in which there are fewer days in
the year of absolute discOmtit from heat or
cold, rain or storm, TO one who has occas-
sion for outdoor work or exercise. But
not withstanding this the character of the
attendance has been quite unsatisfactory
For this, there have been temporary causes
which another year will remove IL is
hardly probable that la grippe will con-
tinue to make US an annual visit. depict
ing the schools for weeks of almost half
the teachers and pupils"
The necessity which compelled the use
of illy-heated. ventilated and lighted, rent
ed rooms, had its effect upon the attend
ance. The abandonment of these and the
occupancy of the new buildings will re-
move this cause of irregular attendance.
The long distances which some of the chill
dren have to travel, the bad condition of
the sidewalks and the want of improved
streets, or the torn up condition of the
streets on account of improvements, may
be considered good reasons for absence dur
ing inclement weather. These causes,
without doubt, more or less reduce the at
tendance"
'But there are causes which lie deeper
and more potent than all these, which can
only be removed by the cooperation OF
parents and teachers. Our population is
made up of people from all sections of our
great country, many from cities, towns
and country where they have been used to
wholesome and strict school regulations
and good public schools; others have come
from cities, towns and country schools
not so fortunate The former classes are |
pleased with strict rules of attendance, and
when they enter their children in school !
they will not allow anything, save sick /
ness or some great emergency to prevent |
their attendance at every school session. !
Rather than have their children absent |
they will practice denial and go TO expense /
to keep their children regularly in school, |
They know that regular attention is essen |
tial to progress, interest, and enthusiasm. |
If wholesome discipline is necessary TO Sc
cure it they will use that. While their |
nbil1rap commanded with Cphnnl /
else is regarded as subordi- /
nate. Such parents are very gen
orally rewarded by the rapid advancement |
IF their children in their studies and in |
heir development of habits of attention
and industry"
THE latter class are sometimes indiffer-
mt; they can see no value in school regu-
ations; teachers have no business to in
iuire into tie absence of their children;
he children and their time belong to their
parents; school boards have no right to
interfere with the control of parents; they
assert it as their absolute right TO send
heir children to school when they please;
o keep them out when they please; they
ire to be alone the judges which they will
TO; any attempt on the part of the teacher
o ascertain the cause of absence is char
IcteriZed as a piece of impeTtinence; the
hildren 90 to school or stay at
home in accordance with their own
sweet will an errand, show,
company, a late breakfast or dinner,
game of any kind, a visit, a
ide, a failure to get a pencil, a pen, etc,
tc., is deemed good and sufficient reason
or absence. Time and good schools must
'e relied upon to bring this class to yield,
or their children : sake, to reasonable reg
latiOns to secure regular attendance.
The teachers, too, have a duty To per-
Orm in securing this desirable end. They
hOuld spare no pains to make the school
DOM attractive the government such as
D inspire right notions of obedience and
clear ideas of what is the best in
nrests of the pupils themselves; that good
rOgreSs requires continued work; that alb
ence of any one pupil is not only loss to
imself but an interference with the rights
( others; to arouse such deep interest !
nd love for school work that the pupils
hay feel positive unwillingness to be
bsent from a single session. The teacher ,
Tho in this way secures the most regular
tendance and holds his pupils the longest
Crnuar,4liv no host teaPhar -