Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-09
IN THE CITY SCHOOLS,
Attendance For the Month OF
November Averages 81
Per Cent.
NO BETTER SHOWING IN STATE.


Wholesome Advice to Parents.
During the month of November
there were 80 schools in the city
whose attendance and punctual-
ity combined averaged above 81 per
cent This is probably as good n re-
port as could be found in any city in
the state.
With a view to conducting the
schools as economically as possible,
the schools in the Hawthorne and Lin 3.
coin buildings have been somewhat
rearranged and consolidated. This
arrangement would have been made
sooner had it not been for the fact
that the Hawthorne building was not
completed, and hence the consolida-
lions could not be effected.
Alexander Forbes, of Chicago, re-
Gently delivered IA lecture before the
teachers of the city, on Reading and
Literature" Mr.. Forbes was at one
time superintendent of the schools of
Cleveland, Ohio. and while not in the
active work at the present time, he is
recognized as one of the brightest
school men in the west. His lecture
was brim full of wisdom and good
sense and was pleasing and helpful to
the teachers.
The Mothers club, of the Lincoln
school, is considering he visibility
of engaging a gentleman from Bos-
ton to give two lectures on art. the
proceeds of these lectures to be used
in purchasing pictures for the decora-
ton of the rooms in the Lincoln
school. This is n movement that
should receive the unqualified endorse
ment of every person in the district.
superintendent Suggestions.
There are two questions that
should receive the serious considera-
ton of our citizens, especially those
who are patrons of the schools as
we'll as taxpayers, says Supt. of
Schools r. G.. Young. First, the
irregularity of attendance on the
non-attendance of many others. There
are many pupils enrolled in the
schools who are absent from one to
three half days, or more a week.
In some cases. parents admit they are
unable to require their children to at
tend. and in many cases it is freely
admitted that pupils are Kept at
home for various causes which, while
they may seem adequate to one who
does not give the matter proper
thought, certainly are not when COM
pared with the loss which the child
suffers. A person engaged in a store,
shop or office, who would absent him
self Is or 20 per cent of the time,
would not expect to hold his position;
person doing odd jobs who would
lay Off one or two days week
would not expect to realize an in
come that would give him more than
the bare necessities of life, if it did
this. How much less can parent
expect, child to be repeatedly absent
and yet maintain his interest in school
work and advance with his classes?
The value of an education to a boy or
girl cannot be estimated in dollars
and cents. The boy who stays out of
school to earn a few cents per day is
losing the birthright secured by the
constitution to every American citi-
zen; he is losing that which will
make him Independent, give him So
cial position and fill him with a whole
some self respect. Children do not
recognize this. but parents ought to
do so, and realizing it, they should
permit nothing but sickness or dire
necessity to stand in the way of the
child's education. What, then. shall
we say of those children who done
attend school at all, who lounge about
the streets, alleys. livery barns and
places that are even worse than them?
Who in their education for crime and
pauperism do not lose a day? Chill
dren who at 10 and II years of age
openly defy their parents, abuse boys
and girls who are trying to do right.
who show discourte,ies to ladies' and
gentlemen, and who too often are en-
gagged in the commission of crime aud
studying how they may successfully
elude the officers of the law?
Should be Compelled to Attend.
is il not high time that people
should think of these things? Is il
not time for those who pay to sup
port schools and suppress crime, to
stamp out this schooling for crime as
thev'would any other evil that threat
ems the welfare of our peoPle? Chill
dren who cannot go TO school because
of misfortune. should be helped; those
who do not go because they prefer the
evil associations of the streets. should
be compelled to go; parents who will
1ullv neglect 10 senu their cnlluren 10
school, should be made to feel the
strong hand of the law.
The taxpayers of Rock Island have
expended 1925, 600 in school houses
and equipments; they are paying ont
annually s75, 900 or $50 90 for edu.
ca'ional purposes, thus providing ia
cilities for educating all the children
of the city. There is law in our
state requiring that all children of
school age be sent to school. In view
of all these facts would it not be a
wise thing for the people of the city