The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-06-07

schools we believe has been well guard
ed and promoted by citizens and pat
rons. This is hcalthful condition and
augurs well for future advancement.
The reports sent la by teachers from
month to month show that during the
year there have been 3S5 visits made in
the school by patrons. divectors and
others.
ATTENDANCE.
Our statistical r-ports show the fol-
lowing items on attendance for the past
three years:
rS9e-7 iso7- lsas-o
Whole No. pupils enrolled. 7O7 6s5 726
Average Attendance .....- ISL $50 61
Per cent. OF Attendance a3 93 @
While our attendance has been unus-
ually good, as may b. seen from these
statistics. yet there are many children
in the school district who ought to be
in school that are not in attendance
during the greater part of the year. An
honest effort has been made to carry
out the provisions Of the compulsory
school law, but parents who desire to do
so can usually find way OF avoiding
the spirit of the law. The neglect is
generally found in these who stand in
the greatest need of education. The
greater part of the responsibility of
attendance lies with parents and to
them we look for support and co-opera-
tion in matters pertaining thereto.
Parent almost invariably act with the
school authorities in securing good at.
tendance, and yet we are frequently
asked by them to excuse pupils from
school before the hours Of closing. This
is a great hindranoe, not only to the
pupil being so excused, but also to the
general work of the school. So many
requests of this kind are sometimes
sent to the principal that in order to
carry on the school work and maintain
interest in the same il becomes neces-
sary to refuse to grant some Of them.
In cases where the causes given seem
unavoidable and necessary we grant
these excuses cheerfully. 1t seems
however, that sometimes parents me-
glect to take into account the effect
that these excuses have upon the gen.
eral work of the school. This condition
is not peculiar to our school district, but
seems to prevail in most large towns
and cities. / desire in this connection
to quote from recent report OF a city
superintendent of this state upon the
same subject. He says:
II have intended for some time to call
the attention of the Board to the large
! number of pupils who are daily excused
from school by their teachers at the
request OF their parents. Several weeks
| ago took charge OF an intermediate
| school during the enforced absence of
| the prineipal and between and o'clock
| was called on to excuse eleven pupils
who had brought notes from their par
| ents asking that they be excused. Dur
| ing visit to recitation room In one
of our grammar schools lately saw the
| teacher excuse in the course of the
recitation eight pupils who had brought
excuses from their parents. These are
not exceptional cases; the same condi-
| tion of affairs exists in nearly every
building in the city. Teachers are re-
quired daily to excuse pupils for dancing
lessons, music lessons, lessons in the
| gymnasium, ETC., to the great disturb
ance Of the school and the hindrance of
the progress Of the classes. am afraid
that the practice OF presenting these
excuses Is on the increase, and unless
something is done it is bound to inter-
fere seriously with the work OF the
school,"
TEACHERS MEETINGS.
Teachers meetings have been held
regularly during the year on Monday
evening of each school week. The
teachers have been prompt and regular
In their attendance upon these meot-
! ings, and have exhibited Jealous