The Washington herald., 1907-02-20
INSTRUCTS TEACHERS
Supt. VIM. Chancellor Issues
Open Letter.
ABOUT UNGRADED CLASSES
Modern Device, Explains Head of
Public Instruction, Required for
the Effective Operation of Act to
Enforce Attendance Distinctions
Between Absentee and TFuant.

Dr. William e. Chancellor, superinten-
ent Of public instruction, addressed an
open letter yesterday TO the officers and
teachers Of the public schools, in which
he dealt with the question of habitual
absentees and the meaning Of ungraded
GLASSES. The letter reads:
1t appears that the nature and purpose
Of the ungraded classes are not fully
understood. In their legal inception. cur
ungraded classes are required for the eff
tective operation of the act to enforce
attendance in the schools. In conse-
quence. there are several kinds of chill
dren who may properly be considered for
transfer from the regular classes to these
ungraded classes. Obviously one kind
Is the habitual absentee This is the boy
who has been enrolled in the school, but
who does not attend, despite the law. He
should be sent 10 the ungraded classes.
where the teacher can keep in daily touch
with the parents and with the attendance
officer.
Absentee and Truanf.
Another kind is the frequent truant
There are two distinctions between the
absentee and the truant: The absentee
has the consent Of the parents, and he
stays away continuously for a week or
a fortnight, or even longer; while the
truant stays out day or two, perhaps
/ longer without even the consent of his
parents.
A third kind Of boy who should be
sent 10 the ungraded classes is the in
corrigible. for the reason that ne deserves
to be denied the privilege of attending a
regular class and of making life there
unbearable for the teacher and his
schoolmates. The teacher of the I'M
graded classics has the time to work in
! dividu'lly with these three kinds of boys.
/ the absentee the truant and the incor-
rigihle, all of whom are usually belated
/ IN their studies and require this special
attention
THE regular teacher who keeps. or
/ tries to keep on the ron boys Of any Of
these kinds is not doing a kindness 10
them or 90 the other pupils. whom they
annoy and retard, or 10 himself Cor her
/ seiD. True kindness. as well as good
Judgment dictates sending such boys
promptly, with the consent Of the super
! Nlslng principal, 10 the ungraded class.
Appreciate Modern Device.
! Utilization Of the special resources of
/ the ungraded class TO care for these boys
/ is by no means "a confession OF weak
/ ncss on the part Of the teacher. 1t is
rather an evidence that the teacher APP
preciates one of the modern devices for
lettering the graded school system.
/ These boys are among those whom that
system does not fit. No doubt a teacher
may be too ready 20 send boys TO these
/ classes; but no one in the District has
displayed any such tendency as yet
These Ungraded classes are not for the
! feeble-minded. or for the detectives in
sight or hearing or for the crippled.
Such pupils when unable 20 do the regu-
/ lar work, the teacher should report, with
/ the consent Of the supervising principal.
To the medical inspector. They must be
cared for by some plan not yet worked
out satisfactorily here.
Glasses for Girls.
THE matter Of ungraded classes for
/ girls awaits evidence that these are
/ needed. In a school population of over
( 5o010 pupils, two such classes are almost
certain to be called for as soon as the
/ value of uugraded classes for boys has
/ been demonstrated to the satisfaction OF
practical class teachers. Those who
+ have girls in their classes properly trans
/ ferablc TO an ungraded class should no
/ tify the supervising principals Of their re-
/ spective divisions
"A pupil should stay in tho ungraded
class until the teacher OF that class and
/ the supervising principal of the division
/ to which he belongs are both satisfied that
/ he will conduct himself properly in a reg
ular class. and attend its sessions faith
/ fully. This may mean d stay of fort