The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-10-24
THE CITY SCHOOLS.
Attendance and Glass Standing.

|
young people, there are certain existing
conditions that have strong tendency
to neutralize the good results that the
people have right to expect from their
school system.
We refer to irregular school attend
ance and poor recitations. There are
pupils in school who have been absent
from their work about two -fifths of the
time since they entered in September
They have staid out to go on errands,
to do little work, to distribute adver-
tising matter, to attend foot ball games,
to go hunting, and merely to stay out
With some, Friday is day of general
relaxation. 1t is not merely few who
| have absented themselves in this man
ner, but very large number, when all
OF the schools are considered. While
many, the absences are not more than
one-half as much as for the correspond
ing period last year.
| 1t is to be regretted that a consider
able amount of this absence is wholly
without the knowledge of the parent.
Yet these pupils who are absent in this
manner usually bring excuses signed by
the parents name This practice of
forging the parents name is very preva-
lent in the high school as well as in the
grades. This deceptive practice causes
the teachers to suspicion some who are
innocent of any wrong. This again
causes the parent to feel unpleasant
toward the teacher. We can assure the
parent that no wrong is intended, but
when deception is the rule rather than
the exception the innocent may occas-
ionally be blamed.
Pupils not only lose the time while
out, but the day of their return is usu.
ally Of no account as they have nc
preparation for their work.
In the case of absence for foot ball
and hunting, or to attend some party,
the day previous to the absence is prac-
tically worthless in school as the mind
is mainly upon. the plans for going. Sc
an absence of one day may mean the
loss of three days in their work.
On the Tuesday following the close
of period of five weeks of school re
port of class work is sent home by eact
pupil. This applies to every pupi
above the B class in first grade. Sever
al parants have told me that they hav,
regretted that these reports were mo-
sent home any more. They could hard
ly believe me when l told them they
were sent as usual.
parent the card signed by the parent.
name, and the parent could only say
that the name was forgery. Parent:
should insist that these reports bt
brought home and then the parent
should carefully examine the same. Il
the class standings are below eighty, il
means the pupil is not passing his grade
work. The parent then should ascer
tain the cause of poor work and try tC
have the proper remedy applied.
We learn by talking with many O.
the parents, that a prevailing habi
among many pupils is not to show th'
card at home until the pupil is ready t.
return to school. For once the pupil i
exceedingly anxious to be at school OF
time and the card must be returned tina
morning. The father is away and th'
mother is busy and the card is hurriedl.
signed and the class standings are no
even read. In some cases the pupil i
told to sign the card. We hope the lat
ter practice will not be in use as i
causes the teacher to be suspicious o
some wrong.
If the class standings have been eras
ed and rewritten the parent should as
sumo that something is wrong. w
already know of some pupils VIII
change the marks on the card befor
showing same to the parent and re
change them before returning the car,
to the teacher.
You may say that this letter show
that something is radically wrong ar
that other things are deplorable. Tha
is precisely what we, wish you to under
stand, and we want the patrons of thi
school district to unite with the schoo
authorities in correcting these evils.
We would add that our recitation
are not assigned according to the abilit
of the most capable pupil in the class
but according to the average ability Q
the class as a whole. If pupils. in q
grades above the sixth do not do som
studying at home it is quite likely tha
some will fail to pass their grades a
school. This is especially the cas-
when pupils are out late and often, al
tending some parties, and are giving
large amount of time to musi C. SchoC
should be made a business not a pai
time, and we have a right to expec
promptness in attendance and attentio
to work We desire to- have our pt
irons visit the schools and ascertai
, how the work is conducted.
, Next week we will Write about th
J courses of study in the high school.
afs a Respectfully,