Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-18

l am unable to account for the fact that the
increased attendance was almost wholly in the
upper grades of the schools-that is in the
grammar grades and the high school, II could
not have been because of the crowded condition
OF schools OF lower grade compared with that
OF upper grades, nor could it have been due to
inconvenience of location of the lower.grade
schools. Nor was it because the lower-grade
schools received less care and attention on the
part OF the supervising corps than those of the
upper grades, for the facts were quite the con-
trary. Perhaps 1t was a mere accident of con-
dItlons which may be reversed another year.
l think, however, that the halliday system
obtaining wholly In the primary schools is. in
part, the reason for the relative small enroll
ment. believe more firmly year by year that
we should seek strenuously to provide a school
room for each school and seat for each pupil
presenting himself for instruction, to the end
that the daily sessions of the primary schools
may be heightened. 1t may not be wise-I
think would not be wise-to give them full
time. Our school rooms are clean, well yenti-
lated and healthful; our school exercises are
interesting, diversified and health giving.
Short sessions induce didactc teaching and
ss.crammng; longer time gives opportunity
for correct teaching and healthful training
There are no valid arguments for halliday
schools. There are MANY reasons why the
children should be in school longer each day.
respectfully suggest the propriety of ex-
tending the school day of the primary schools
to four aid half hours. of two sessions. These
schools might begin at half past 8 o'clock, TAX
ing the ordinary noon recess from IL to 1, and
to close at 3. with the other grades.
If 1t Is thought unwise to extend the time OF
all the primary schools, respectfully suggest
that 1t be made lawful for the superintendent
with the advice of the supervising principal and
the consent of the local trustee, to extend the
time OF any school. make this last suggestion,
because IN my visits l frequently find school
rooms closed, the children having been sent
O a I.a1 H..
am confident the children would be better off
to be trained more and taught more This is
especially true in some Of the schools of the
county.
Many Of the children belonging to these
schools will attend school but one, two or three
years at most Some Of them are more than
SIX years OF age when they enter school. 1t is
not an uncommon thing to find chill
dren in the rural schools eight or ten
years old, in the first grade, max
ing their first attempt at learning to read.
Such pupils require more time and attention
1t would be eminently wise, in my judgment,
to give them more time and attention by in
creasing the length Of the school day. / be-
ieve. also. that most parents interested would
lbe gratified by this ruling.
TRUAScY.
1 take the liberty to renew the suggestion
made last year that truancy officer be ap-
pointed, to ascertain who do not attend school
and why they do not attend school, to the end
that the benefits of the schools may reach all
for whom they are designed.
TEXT BOOKS.
The consideration of school attendance sug-
gests tho question of text books for the chill
dren.
According to the rules of the board the text
books are now loaned to children whose parents
request the same. This request however. Is to
be accompanied by declaration that he who
makes it is unable to furnish the text books for
his children. Many worthy persons, unfortu-
nately situated, naturally dislike to make such
statement or declaration. For this reason there
is no doubt that many children are detained
from school for weeks or months at o time