Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-09-18
> ABLISFED 1855
Kings TO REMEDY.
j on of the City Scools Talks to Patrons
=, and Parents.

= - anu raItnIS
q RENTs AND GUARrf 4NS:-One
| of th6S3lrtues which .Le sci ,ol seeks to
| develop in it's pupils is the habit of reg
| ularity. 1t seeks to do this oy working
| according to a program, which lays out
for each day time scheme according
to which each pupil is to prepare and
| recite his different lessons. Between
| any two successive studies in the same
subject there is more or less connection.
In some studies the connection between
| any two successive recitations is exceed
lngly close so that the pupil who misses
any recitation, will not be in proper
mental condition to get the most out of
the next recitation in that subject. Now
it is one of the duties of the teacher to
strive to form and fix habits of regular
ity but he needs the co operation of the
parents tn secure the best results. Pu-
pills should be regular in attendance IL
good results are to be obtained, and it
is the province of the parents to see that
pupils are absent rs little as possible.
OF course. there must of necessity be
considerable absence in school system
of nearly five hundred pupils. We must
put up with such of 1t as may be neces-
sary. but it seems TO the teachers in
charge that there is considerable
amount of absence that will not admit
of classification under the head of nec-
essary absence Much of it is ordinary
individual absence for some trivial rea-
son. Then there is the organized alb
sence when parents permit parties of
Young people ~ have picnics or other
social affairs ON school days. This kind
of aoSence has at times almost depopu-
lated classes in the Viroqua high school.
A third kind of unnecessary absence is
Friday afternoon absence; not so large
last year it is true, but still equaling at
all times fifth or sixth of the total
enrolment This is discouraging to
teachers. To puDils 1t means loss of
one-fifth of the class work of certain
number of studieG and may have some
thing to do with class of students who
seem ablefto do fairly good work at the
beginning of year but who fail to do
even creditable work toward its close.
All these classes of absence are legiti-
mate so far as consent of parents is con-
cerned They harm the school in its
mechanical workings and in Its moral
tone and the teachers urge the parents,
at the beginning of this new school year
to prevent. as far as possible, absence
without valid excuse.
Illegal absence, truancy, is covered
by the rule of the school board: ANY
pupil absent from school without the
consent of parent, guardian or teacher
in charge, shall stand suspended and
shall not be reinstated without the ac-
ton Of the board
In order that parents and teachers
may be in closer touch in regard to the
pupils, it has been decided 10 ask parents
and guardians Of pupils who may be
absent, to send by those pupils on their
return to school a written explanation.
Such explanation or excuse should be
dated, should state the amount OF time
it covers, and IL Is believed by the teach
ers that good will come from having the
excuse state the reason for the absence.
We teachers hope that parents will take
the time to tell us just why pupils are
absent, such information to be considered
strictly confidential by teachers
Pupils who may wish to leave school
| before the regular time for dismission,
viii be excused uPon presenting writ
| ten request from parent or guardian.
Finally, TO account for all the time
the pupil is in charge of the teacher,
parents will be asked to send written
explanation of tardiness whenever par
ticular cases seem to demand an inquiry
on the part of the teacher.
1t ia sincerely hoped that parents will
look upon these Innovations as instru-
ments for enabling each teacher TO
perform more fully the duties of his
calling, and will not look upon them as
meaningless piece of educational red
tape. The more the teacher knows of a
boy or girl, the better he can lead or
instruct thai boy or girl. The better
we know the parents, the greater will
be our knowledge of the pupil. and.hence
an increase Of power to lead and instruct.
Rightly managed, the svstem Of ex-
cuses wi II wipe ont tiusncy, but un,eea
parents see TO it thas tiIey and the,
alone are permitted 10 sign excuses the
system puts q premium upon forgery.
If possible, some arrangement win be
made by which excuses may be returned
to the writers.