The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-28
RECOMMENDS
ATTENTION
Supt. Of Schools Says Too
Many Social Diversions
HURT THE SCHOOL WORK
And Declare That the Schools Are
Placed Of Secondary Importance
to Many other
Things.

In the annual report Of Superinten-
dent OF Schools o. ID. Mathewson, Just
completed, there are some reeommenda.
tons concerning the schools and the
pupils which are meant to be directed
to the parents. Among other things
the superintendent says that irregular
attendance is matter that demands
serious attention in the Barre schools.
He also calls TO the attention of the
parents the dangerous indulgence in $50
cial dissipation, improper food at unsea-
sonable hours, and participation in en-
tertainments,9 all Of which are detri-
mental to the good of the schools and
the pupils. The figures show that the
attendance is growing at the rate OF
about $50 each year, calling for at least
three new rooms every year.
More Room for High School Needed.
"The large enrolment in the high
school is source of qualification to
all interested ia the work OF our public
schools. 1t should be the aim Of every
pupil in the grades to complete course
in the high school. Such an ambition
will serve to give steadiness of effort and
definiteness Of purpose. The high school
has outgrown its present Accommodations.
The work for the past year has been
handicapped by large classes and small
recitation rooms We need at once d
well equipped laboratory for individual
experimentation, room especially fitted
for commercial branches, and a large
recitation room. | would earnestly rec
ommend that the second floor of the
Spaulding building be devoted to the
needs of the high school and the ninth
grade, both taught by the same corps OF
teachers. The opening Of the school
building now in process OF construction
will afford the opportunity for meeting
this urgent demand
Irregular Attendance.
The question Of irregular attend
anee in our school demands serious at
tention by all having at heart the we'll
being Of our young people. There ap-
pears to be feeling that school il not
really important in itself and that its
claims may be set aside for almost any
6HlLiA tIldt OCCURS
Cold and stormy weather, entertain
ments, family visits, shopping, caring
for smaller children, doing errands, sell
ing papers and a multitude of similar
causes furnish the so-called necessary
excuses for hardness, absence and dis
missal. These Irregularities are most
frequent among The pupils least interest
ed in the school work, whose progress
IS unsatisfactory. To illustrate this.
have examined the records of twenty
four students in the high school for the
last term. / have selected the twelve
having the highest averages and the
twelve having the lowest averages for
the term. The first group had twenty
four irregularities in attendance. The
second group had one hundred and twelve
in attendance. This il sig
aiileant of close connection between poor
attendance and poor work.
THE correction or this evil has
distinct moral value The public school
Inns to lay the foundations of good char
acter. To this end right habits are a.
sential. All will admit the desirability
# systematic and methodical ways, vet
lar too many fail to see that the school
affords umrivalled opportunity for being
q the right place at the right time.
Routine Is almost indispensable To effec-
i've work. 1t fixes the habit Of prompt
ness and regularity, 10 essential ta
success in the business world. 1t Is
for the good Of the child in
iividnally, as well as the school, that
III Irregularities id attendance be lin
ted to actual necessity.
Social Designations. Etc.
n cannot refrain from calling the
lttention of parents to the dangerous
Indulgence of children ii social dissipa
ion, improper food at unreasonable |
lours, and participation ia entertain
nents. Such indulgences tend to weak. |
N the physical strength of the child, |
o rendering him moro susceptible to |
lisease; to retard his mental growth, /
which is closely related to good health;
md to sap his nervous vitality, thus |
him for the work OF the school. |
t should go without saying that the
hild who comes to school physically, |
mentally, or nervouslY fatigued, cannot |
q good work, satisfactory to parent |
r teacher, without overtaxing him.
Enrolment This Term
The enrolment this term Is s,l47, |
a increase of 14s over the same period /
ne year ago. II Is distributed as fol- |
ows, by buildings