The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-09
ATTENDANCE HAS INCREASED
Children stay in school Better Than
EAuaf

Wichita has q truant officer and the
first month of his work has just been
finished and he has succeeded IN increas-
ing the attendance in the Wichita public
schools over three per cent. James Mer-
Ger is the truant officer and he is kept
tusy all the time. The school boahd did
not know there were so many children
out of school until this officer went to
work. He mas brought many 70 school
and some Of the boys who wers habitual
truants have been kept in the school
rooms the greater part II the month.
The percentage of attendance during
The first month OF school this year was
IS while the attendance Tor the month
ending Friday, was 500. ar Mercer in
his rounds found d number Of cases where
children were not attending school Of
their own viii II 2 few cases the par
ents were unable to buy books Or what
they considered proper clothing In
some instances boys and girls were kept
at home on account of the work thoy
could do and the help they would be to
the mother and family
Thu truant officer was given a list II
the boys and girls in this city who should
be in school on the first day CT october.
He was told TO find out the reason for
these children being oat CT school. lie
found all sorts Of reasons When the
parents We're unable to furnish hooks
the truant officer has a fund appropriated
by the board of education, ana he fur
nished the books. Where the parents
could not furnish clothing. he made ar
engagements with the charitable organiza-
items to furnish it. In every one of the
cases of this nature the children were
more than willing to go 20 school.
But there were = number OF cases OF
chronic" truancy. where the parents
were at fault. not in getting books and
clcthing bat in not looking after their
children In some instances the parents
cared very little whether the children
ent TO school or not. These boys We're
nut IN school ard the truant officer kept
his eye open for them ana most OF the
Toys have been prompt in their attend
ance. Sometimes the boys played hockey
without their parents knowing it. These
boys were sent TO school and the parents
notified
To the Eagle Yesterday Mr. Mercer
told this story one OF the teachers poti-
fed hlm of a boy u years old who was
not attending school He called at the
home one evening but the boy was up
town on IN errand. He informed the
mother that he would cali the next morn
Ing at o'clock to have a conference
Win the boy ard see why he did not
want TO 20 to school. oh DO not como
before II o'clock, the womsn exclaimed.
for we do not set up before that time
This mother had asked that the truant
officer look after her boy and keep him
in school but she wanted school hcl1
only In the afternoon.
Since the Inauguration Of the new or
Ger many persons have asked him to look
after their children some Of the boys
are incorrisibIe and the parents can do
rothing with them. In several Instances
tho BOYS have faithfully attended school
since the officer visited them.
The attendance III the Eiclata schools
has greatly increased in the past year.
showing that Wichna IS growing rapidly
In l9N the number II pupils enrolled
curing the first month q The year was
AIS. while the fetal enrolment the first
month Of chs year was - ana the totai
enrolment Of the second month is 4.-6a-
1t is expected chat the total enrolment
Of the year VIII be nearly seo9 pupils.
by tho AID Of The truant officer during
the past month the average attendance
las been raised three per cent