Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-04-12
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
Principal Wright Discusses the Cues
ton and Makes Suaeestions.

school attendance in Bethel the past veal
and to consider the attitude OF he primer
pal and school authorities regarding alb
sence from school. Your cooperation
with the teachers in securing better at
tendance is greatly desired.
The attendance in the entire school rs
very unsatisfactory. The average attend
ance in the High school for the last year
was 90.6 plus per cent of the possible at
tendance. 1t is inconceiyable that the
necessary absences should amount TO
nearly 10 per cent OF the possible attend
ance; the number OF absences known TO
be for trivial and unnecessary reasons is
intolerable. The attendance in the other
rooms is somewhat better than in the
High school, but not satisfactory.
The evils resulting from absence from
school are at least three in number the
loss to the pupil himself, the injury to the
class when work must be repeated for the
I benefit of those W ho have been absent, the
encouraging OF lax ideas of duty and
honor in the pupil. OF these, the first is
in my opinion OF the least importance. In
the case of many pupils, if the absences
are OF infrequent occurrence and of short
duration, the work lost can be made up in
a satisfactory manner. 1t is evident that
the injury to the pupil increases with
more frequent or prolonged absence.
The second loss Incurred by absence is
teacher, or one who has carefully observed
the work OF schools, can appreciate how
great is the loss of time and energy due TO
the necessity OF holding back an entire
class and repeating work in order to give
those who have been absent a chance TO
catch up. 1t is impossible to do efficient
work with an average of over nine per
cent of the school bsent; absurd to ex-
pect. Efficient and satisfactory work in
your school, results that repay you for the
cost OF the school, demand better attend
ance than during last year. This can be
secured only by the assistance OF the par
ents, and by the arousing and maintain
ing of public sentiment that demands
that during five days OF the week attend
ance at school shall be the first duty Of
each and every pupil enrolled. Popular |
should prevent any action on |
the part OF the thoughtless or Indifferent I
which tends to distract the minds OF
pupils from school work, to keep them !
out OF school, or to so exhaust their ener- /
gIes as TO make satisfactory work impossi- |
bic. Without this, no expenditure OF /
money, however great; no effort, however +
by teachers, committee, or those 4
pupils who are regular in attendance, can I
make your schools good ones.
The third evil resulting from unneces-
sary absence is perhaps the least consid-
cred IN individual cases, but IN my mind
IS the most important. The pupils are in
he formative stage OF their lives, now
building and strengthening habits that
will exercise the most powerful control
over all their future actions. Far more
important than any mere book knowledge
5 the character your boy or girl is acquir-
ng. Habits OF industry, OF perseverance,
he ability to apply himself earnestly to
be task before him, accuracy OF thought f
md action, self-reiiance,. f-control, a
Ugh sense OF honor and duty-these are
he true aims of the school, not the mere
unity 70 recite lessons or to perform set
asks. Growth OF moral character is the
'est fruit Of the school, not scholarship.
he pupil who is occasionally absent from
ehool may be able to make MP all the
york gone over by the class, he may even
old high rank in the class; but il he is.
flowed at any time to regard the school
s secondary to the enjoyment of a holt
ay, to set pleasure above duty, he is re-
ewing the worst possible training. BY
II means encourage your children to play
ames, TO take proper recreation, to learn
. enjoy ltej but also, II you would do
our tull duty by them and by your
chool, impress upon their minds the fact
hat for five days in the week, from nine
clock IN the morning to four in the aft
rnoon, the duty OF school attendance {
lands before any desire for pleasure.
- At+N NA'hcts BitStnAtu lQE absence.
lckness Is perhaps most frequently given, !
nd the excuse is always accepted. No
ndeavor 10 secure better attendance J
hould lead parents or teacher to disre- I
ard the physical health of the pupil.
ne parents are the best judges OF the con- 1
ition of their children and their judg- {
rent Is never questioned.
Another excuse frequently given is the ]
ecessity OF staying out to work This is
reason which will often bear investiga- I
on. II is surprising at times 20 notice |
ow exactly the completion OF the task [
lincides with the close of the school at {
'ur O'Clock. The school authorities rec 4
gnize the fact that a majority OF the pu- /
lis IN the High school are required TO do
iore or less work at home, and that {
lere are times when their aid during [
'hool hours is imperative. There are pu. b
Us also, who are largely dependent on o
lelr own resources and certainly all pos
ole encouragement should be given {,
lem IN their efforts. Still, the matter v
ON the school standpoint is not entirely L
tisfactory. 1t has seemed to the principal
times that pupils are bribed to do work Ii
home BY being allowed to do it in school q
Durs. The charge may be unjust. for Inc X
'ldence IS circumstantial-the fact that h
e pupi does not seem to have much a
ork 10 DO when school is not in session. 4
srtainly, parents who must have the as q
stance OF their children should see to IL
AT their tasks are performed Just so far
possible out of school hours. Il
The principal has followed the policy of %
cepting excuses for absence on speciai A
casions, the dates Of which are fixed and
u under school control; for instance.
rs IN nelghboring towns, excursions to
'ston or New York, etc. In every such
&c he has made sure the absence was 81
IN the consent of the parents and has
ceptsd their consent as sufficient excuse. II
lere are, however, many absences of such
nature as to he inexcusable. That the u
rents have knowledge OF the fact cannot
cuse boy; absence to go trout fishing n
az lst, when the sport is open to him ali .
saturdays OF many weeks thereafter. a
go hunting, to attend BAH game in
ighboring town. to go to maple sugar AZ
rtyi are causes ofhbseGces that have oc- bl
rred within year. From their very ma "a
re they are inexcusable. The fact that Oh
E consent OF a parent is obtained merely &C
IT'S the blame from pupil to parent. The
ltter has already been brought to the at
ltlon OF many parents. This time ~
zen new school registers are Just being 81
ened, seems proper time to bring the n
estion clearly before all who are inter st
ed IN the school. In no other way can N