Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-09-15
sRArrLEsoRo, FRIDAY, SEPT. IS. 1905
R.oular Attendance at School.

enforcement. TO the letter, OF the tru-
ancy law as a partial means Oh m
creasing school attendance In that Guy
and of reducing its future recoru vi
cr,me This reminds us that the most
grieyous complaint made by our own
teachers during the past two years III
regard to conditions for effective WORK.
was that of the irregular attendance
of pupils. The records showed tha'
attendance was more common III
periods of good health and good wealth
er than during stormy terms and wheh
epidemics of disease were preVaiiihs'
This noints conclusively to lack Oh
discipline in the home.
1t is good time, at the beginning
of the work of the school year, for par
ents to consider their duties IN con-
nection with the education OF their
children and the maintenance OF goou
schools. They can and should DO more
than to pay their school taxes. Ihey
should see, for one thing. that their
children get up i'm the morning In time
n he properly washed, clother and req
and still get to school promptly at the
Amounted time. II is absurd FOR par
ents to criticise and condemn teach-
orc methods or educational systems
in connection with the unsatisfactory
nropress of their children in mental
attainments, when they allow those
children to be unnecessarily absent or
tardy. The best educational methoos
and the wisest instructors viii not
avail for an absent pupil.
If parents are so weak or SO ihul1-
ferent as to fail in this matter Of com
pelling prompt and regular attendance
at school, such authority as schooi'
village or state laws or regulations
give along this line should be exer-
cised unflinchingly in behalf OF better
schools and more satisfactory results.
1T is not fair to expect everything OF
teachers and school boards. They are
often criticised and not always I'M
duly But they have their trials ana
grievances as well as their faults. Co
operation Of home and school and COM
munity is absolutely necessary. for
Justice and best results to all concern
ed. Yet it seldom exists in developed
and effective form.
Let the parents of Windham county
try the experiment this year OF strict
enforcement of the domestic prompt
to-school law; let them insist on plen-
ty Of sleep for their youngsters, at a
sacrifice of social rather than school
or home duties; on fresh air ana
wholesome food and outdoor exercise.
Send the children to school thus
equipped, with the understanding that
they must adapt themselves. temper
arily, at least, to the rules and stand
ards prevailing in the school, and see
what the result of the years work Will
be.
II it is not good, there will then be
an opportunity to search for short
comings elsewhere. You will have
done your most urgent duty. It is Of
ten argued that parents should CO.
operate and encourage by visiting the
schools oftener; but all parents can
not do this. Their time is occupied
by other insistent duties. If they get
their children to school promptly. in
good moral and physical condition, the
teachers should be able to do the rest.
The relations of home and school in
the cause of education should be some
thing like those of the father and
mother of a child There should be
mutual respect and consideration and
cooperation in a common and unself-
ish desire for the well being of the
child.