Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-09-01

Total............. HI so So
1t will be noticed that out Of LII
children, between the ages of aud
1G. enumerated in the district, only
$50 entered tho public schools during
the year, and of these $50 only 31G
were there every day of the term-a
little more than one-half. The emu
meration Of children between lG aud
81 years of age is not considered in
the above, as but few children over
sixteen attend the public schools.
Section 10 of the school law says:
whenever, at the end of any school
month, the daily average attendance
of that month has been less than
thirty-five per centum of the whole
number of pupils enumerated in the
sub district, the trustees may close
the school aud dismiss the teacher,
unless otherwise directed by the board
of education"
If the trustees of the several sub
districts in ShepherdstOwn district
were strict in carrying out this pro
vision Of the law, nearly every school
would have been discontinued the
past year, as the percentage of at
tendance Of the enumeration was but
little more than 80 per centum and
this, too, when there was no special
cause for non.attendance.
Will not the parents, children, teach
ers and school officers all cooperate
to make better showing this year
Parents and patrons complain loudly
when comfortable school-houses are
not furnished and supplied with fur
niture, but do they ever think OF the
obligation that they are under to send
their children to school every day in
order to reap the full benefit OF the
expenses thus incurred and repay the
community for the money expended
to fit these children for good citizen
ship?
In order to obtain n larger enroll
ment Of the children, between 6 and
16 years Of age, enumerated in the
district, and more regular attend
ance OF those enrolled, the following
suggestions are made and the teach
ers urged to make an effort to have
every child enrolled in school that has
been enumerated in the district, and
try to keep all there the whole year
l. AS soon as the session opens make
out roll Of all the children of school
age to be found in the sub-district-
not the aggregate number OF males
and females. This list may be OBJ
tanned largely from the pupils that
may be enrolled the first week and
verified afterward by inquiries from
parents and trustees or by house to
house visit. In whatever way OBJ
tanned, be sure it is accurate. 1t will
require some labor to get it, but it
will pay in the END. On the same
page with the list, rule three columns
and head them Cd Attending Else
where" (2) Attending School," CD
Remarks" Keep this roll in the
school desk and every week compare
enrolment with this list and obtain
from pupils, parents and trustees such
information as may be needed and
plan 1t opposite to the names in the
proper columns. Under the head Of
remarks" give any special reasons
that parents may have for not send
ing their children to the school. With
such list filled out, the teacher will
be prepared to give any information
that may be asked for and will be
able to account for every child Of school
age enumerated in the district.
3 At the end Of every month report
to the trustees the names of those not
yet enrolled and the names of those
on the roll that may be absent with
out excuses and request the trustees
to look after these. In this way the
school work will be kept alive and
many be enrolled that would not 9TH
erwise be there, and the attendance
be made more regular. The teacher
must be alive to his work if ho would
keep his school full, his grades up and
maintain a proper classification OF the
pupils.
These suggestions may seem to be
adding tG the work of the teacher, but
it will lessen his labors III the end, in
crease the attendance at his school,
make his teaching more satisfactory
and make him an important factor in
in the school work Of the district. 1t
is hoped that the teachers will ponder
these hints and put the suggestions
into practice and try to secure bet
ter attendance in our public schools
the present year. Every facility will
be given them in this matter and the
school officers will heartily aid them
in every way that they can.
JOSEPH MCMURRAN.
Deafness Cannot be Cured