Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-03-18
Educational Department
CoxDvcrHp nv
PROF. b. FINK,
Principal iilk Point Schools.


PUNcTUALITv A NECESSITY.
There in 50 much Of sound reas
oning in the words of Prof. Kratz
concerning attendance that they mr..
published in full. Parents, please
read them.
To the Parents ofSioux City: A,
a recent meeting Of the board Of ed.
ucation, the rules respecting irregu-
lar attendance were modified and
unanimously adopted. They now
stand as follows.
Rule 6 Every pupil absent or
tardy must promptly bring to the
teacher a written excuse from par.
ent VI guardian. In case 4 pupil
has been absent four half days ar
tardy six times in four successive
weeks, without valid excuse to thu
teacher, he shall be reported 10 the
superintendent, and such pupil shall
be retained in school only upon NJ.
surance that his attendance will be
regular and satisfactory, otherwise
he shall be suspended until such AZ.
surance is given.
Rule l6. The teacher shall prompt
ly investigate all cases of absence
and tardiness Of their pupils. NJ
excuse for absence or tardiness shall
he considered valid but sickness or
some imperative necessity.
This change was imperativelv de.
manded because Of the prevalence
Of this irregularity. In the past six
months the total number Of half
days lost was $685., Or one school
year each for l35 pupils, and there
were 4,Ol9 cases Of tardiness. Adj
hitting that some Of this irregular.
ity was caused by sickness and other
unavoidable causes, yet it leaves a
very great loss, the result OF arr.
l~essness and Indifference either
ON the part Of pupils, or parents, or
or both.
Our schools would be highly cul.
pable it they failed to teach that
punctuday Is a virtue and the ,cant Of
It an erl. They would also be high.
ly culpable If they did not attempt,
in every legitimate way, to prevent
this want Of punctuality from be-
coming a habit.
Think Of the great loss of time
during the past six months to Jul
pupils. One years schooling for
1875 pupils lost in six months. When
We consider what development might
have been attained by these aLsen-
tees had they been regular in atten-
dance the loss to the city seems
great, but when We recall that these
absentees have retarded the work OF
I'LL the rest Of the 5000 who were
regular and punctusl in attendance
the loss appears vastly greater.
Here is where gross injustice is
done. The irregular few retard the
progress and prevent efficient work
on the part Of the many.
Some parents seem To think that
if they are satisfied with irregular
attendance on the part Of their chill.
dren it's no body's business but
their own This is a very serious
mistake and becomes apparent OH a
moments consideration.
A pupil has been absent for sew
eral days. His class has been mas
tering some difficult work in aritl,-
metic. When he returns, the teacher
can choose IL Of too cells, either 10 spend
time and effort ,chich ought to be gircn
to tie en- ire class in bringing up this pu-
pa to their understanding Of tic subject,
or IN other cords hold back the class un-
1.-THE ''catches up" or attempt to go o
wih the entire class and haze him as a
constant drag or ,ccight, rstardisg Me
progress Of the class. When the litter
course is pursued it usually results.
finally, in the decentralization Of the
pupil: the class. however, has been
seriously hindered in its work be.
fore this is done. III either case it
works an injustice to those who are
earnest in effort aud faithful in at
tendance.
Our public school is a kind Of
copartnership entered into by all the
cisizens Of Sioux City to give their
children a fair education. No mem.
Der OF that copartnersLip has a right
to do that which will hinder or tend
to defeat the attainment Of that OBJ
ject, but on tie contrary ought to
assist in every legitimate way in
promoting that work. II is tile duty,
therefore, Of the careless few whose
children are habitually irregular
either to see to it that their child.
rem attend regularly, and no longer
tend TO defeat the object of the CO.
partnership, or else withdraw from
the copartnership.
According to the rules pupils must
bring written excuses from parent
or guardian, and the teachers must
dertemine whether the excuses are
valid or not. Two kinds ofexcusea
are mentioned: sickness or some i'm.
49,. "