Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-11
THE TARDY HABIT,
Supt. Young on Failing Of
School Children.
SOME ADVICE TO PARENTS ALSO
Head Of the City's Educational Affairs
Points Out . Number of Practices which
are Growing Among Pupils to the Board
Of Directors-G. L. Brown Resign.

Points Out Number of Practices which
are Growing Among Pupils to the Board
Of Dirscsors-G. L. Brown Rssigns.
Children and parents are given
few gentle reminders in the report OF
Superintendent of Schools z G.
Young, submitted to the board of
education at its meeting last even.
ing. He deplores the extent to which
tae tardy habit hiss grown among
pupils; criticises the abuse of the
excuse ideas, and devotes considera-
bic space to a general overhsuling of
the shortcomings Of scholars and
parents, which should be remedied If
q good standard of education is to be
maintained in Rock Island.
The number of new pupils re-
ceived during October was 50. max
ing a total enrolment for the two
months Of 1898. In his report Sups.
Young also shows that the average
number belonging is 2.S2S 80; averay e
daily attendance. 1855. 81; total days
IT absence. 2. 643; average daily ab-
sence, 222.99; total cases OF tardi-
ness, 70; per cent of attendance.
95 4S; per cent OF punctuality, SO 80:
number OF pupils neither absent nor
tardy, 1892; cases of truancy, As;
cases of corporal punishment, 6;
number of visits, 27l; cases of teach
ers hardness. Z.
The superintendent is not at all
pleased with the showing of these
statistics, the number of days Of alb
sence being far too great, and it is
to be hoped, he says, that in the in
terest of good schools and the intel.
lectual growth and development OF
the city that patrons will cooperate
with teachers and superintendent in
securing a higher degree Of regular.
lily in attendance.
The pernicious habit of coming to
school late is one that can not be
condemned too vigorously" con
tinues the superintendent. ..It il
, one whose evil consequences arc ex.
ceeded only by those arising from
the practice OF remaining ont o.
school for the entire session. Pupils
who come dragging into school few
moments late soon loose that feeling
of self res pect, that esprit de corps,
that is peculiar to those who ar,
always prompt in meeting school en-
gagements. More than this, tn,
habit grows upon them and in tim
they become confirmed laggards
needless of meeting engagements
whether they be to perform SOM
duty at a given time or later in lif,
to meet financial obligations whel
they mature. Hence, We see tina
habits of irregularity which seem t.
many so inconsequential now, result
in time in causes that unfit men an,
women for business and exert upo:
them an unhealthful moral influence
Too Much Excusiog.
There is another practice quit
prevalent in the city that seriOusl
lnterferes with the highest degree o
efficiency in the schools: I refer t.
the habit of excusing pupil
from school before the close of tn
session. Thus far there has been n
limit placed by the board on tn,
number of times q pupil may be ex
cused from school during the ses
sion, or what shall constitute a vail
excuse for allowing pupils to DO 8
THE only essential seems to be TO
the pupil to present to the teacher
written note from the parent say
ing: Please excuse Hattie at r.
cess or Send Johnny home at !:
O'clock etc. Whatever we ma
think Of the validity of the excuse
there can be no question as to tn
: i'll consequences upon the pupil
who thus leave school at these IN
seasonable hours, or upon the school
as a whole. 1t is great misfor
tune when any school sy stem is CON
PEELED to fall into such loose habi,
n in order to crafty the various, off
It entimes trivial, demands OF its ps
irons. The highest degree of efiiC
liency will never be attained unit
people come to feel that the educs
tional system Of this city is an in
stitution OF such vast importanc
that their personal convenience az
the desires and whims Of their chi
, drcn must yield oftentimes to tn
claims of the school. Patrons mu.
realize keenly that teachers and 81
perentendent, even when supporte
by an aggressive and intelIigeI
board. cannot build up an efficien
system OF schools without the syn
patty of the community"
Mr.. Young also speaks of the trr
ancy cases. but says il is impos ibl
\ to hold regularly in school those pl
y pills who have become confirmed i
their habits of truancy in the al
sence Of the controlling influence {.
home. Mr.. Young says that tt
teachers training school has q men
bership of p young ladies: tn.
= meetings are he'd Monday an
4 Thursday evenings of each week an
> that he cannot speak too highly I
the interest manifested by the ella.
in the work they have undertaken
that it must result in great goo
when these young ladies shall be s,
lected to do active work in tn
schools of the city.
Nc. Brown Resigns.
G. l.. Brown. teacher OF math'
matics at the High school. presente