The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-13

card on the front seat Of each division
of her school. where every seat Is occu-
pied when the bell stops. Another, on
Friday morning of each weeks pins IA
nag stickpin on each pupil who has been
neither tardy nor absent during the week.
At the close Of the day, the pins are coll
lected and used again at the following
weeks end.
BROKE UP TARDINEss.
To my knowledge, an intermediate
teacher effectually broke up both
hardness and absence in her school
by reading for Ave minutes at the OPEN
ing of each session, from an interesting
book. For the Oldest pupils. the only
device ] can suggest. is attractive OPEN
Ing exercises In which they may take
part. A device may become a remedy.
for. as In bodily diseases we often have
to employ superficial means to give ma
ture chance to do her work. so in deal
Ing with absence ard hardness. simple
devices may by tiding the young mind
through Its formative period. prevent
wholly these evils or effect a permanent
cure of even an obstinate case.
Besides the effect of example and de-
vice, we have the influence of monthly
report cards, suspension blanks, moth
ers' meetings, and in cases of wilful alb.
sences we have the ubiquitous truant
the home should afford. but sometimes
neglects. But with all our getting, let
use get understanding--an understanding
Of our pupils. and to do this we must be
q friend.
Perhaps that poor boy who slouches
into school after work Is we'll advanced,
bears a load that would crush many a
mortal soul. Let me tell you a story.
The bell had stopped ringing, the school
room door closed. and the opening eX-
ercises had begun. Five minutes after
ward the door opened and a neglected
boy shuffled to his scat. The teacher
noticed him, said nothing aloud. but
thought to herself that she would talk
to him at recess. But when recess time
came, after an unusually trying morning
she was so tired. that she was anxious to
get rid of her cares. and was disposed to
let her talk to Philip wait until some
other day. and to justify her desire,
| thought, "Oh. well, everything is not
required of me for forty-tive dollars a
month";"
Just then Philip passed and something
made her call him back. Perhaps 1t was
the remembrance of some neglected duty,
which could never be righted afterwards
perhaps she remembered a time when a
word In season had changed the entire
current of her beirg. However that may
be- moment later she was sitting be-
side him having a heart-to-heart talk
such as many boy remembers with
gratitude forever afterwards.
HEAD WAS ON HIS DESK.
In a few minutes Philips head was on
his desk and between his sobs he Was
| telling Miss B. his hopes and how they
had come to naught, how he had longed
| for an education. and how he had given
| up. for his mother was a widow. ana he
\ hud tn ct tnyp ant ~ ycn1 tr b,,1tN hn,
besides being tardy two days In the week
That was when he went for the clothes
| Sometimes he was kept so long that 1t
| seemed as though he could not face the
| school.
Besides" he sobbed, "Mr. Brown
stood at the door when I came in this
morning and he told me that If 1 could
not keep from lowering the record OF the
| school by so much tardiness and alb
sence, ] had batter not come at all, SC
I thought 1 would take my books home
this noon."
Miss BIS eyes flashed as he repeated
the words of the principal, but she took
the child's hand in hers. and told him he,
| interest In him, her desire to see him gel
an education. and that she would see Mr.
| Brown and explain the tardiness and
absence. Just then the bell rang, but
Miss B. whispered word Of encourage.
ment that changed the aspect of the
whole world to that boy.
Miss B won her case with the principal
watched that boy with keen sympathy
formulated plans for the best employ
ment Of those precious moments wher
he sat rocking the baby brother at home
while his mother washed, and finally
largely through her tact and wisdom, h,
obtained that education which she hat
ever kept before him as beacon light.
Is Philip an exceptional case? Is there
| a school room without him?
The best of all Pills are Beechams.