The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-23
FOOTBALL TEAM GETS
LEAVE TO GO
BOARD SAYS BOYS CAN GO ON
WEEKS TRIP TO poRT-
LAND AND EUGENE.

School football team to go to Port
land and Eugene was again taker
under consideration, and the mem
bers voted u grant tRe desired per.
omission This will be good news fol
the members Of thefootball team and
an the others in the Astoria High
who are interested in athletics
II is said the board showed no dis
inclination "a grant the permission
Only one member II said to think
that il might b better II the boys
would stay at home instead 81 max,
ing a trip that will take them out Of
school for an entire week.
An incidental question has arisen
in connection with the absence Of
the football team for ono week. In
the Astoria public schools there OBJ,
tains what is termed the "honor sys-
tenn" and under this system all those
pupils who have fulfilled certain re-
quirements called for are passed from
grade to grade without being com
PEELED TO take written examinations
at the end Of the terms. The system
will be best understood BY present.
ing the section Of the school laws in
question:
Pupils known as Honor Pupils
shall, at the end Of each term, be
promoted without examination, when
they have fulfilled the following re-
quirements: Excellent department,
no tardiness, not to exceed FIVE days
absence, all Of which must be ex.
cused, and a general average Of IS
per cent in scholarship, provided that
they shall not fall below 20 per cent
in any one study"
1t will be observed that "6ve days
absence"-7no matter what the cause
may be-unless excuse is granted by
the proper school authorities, win
render all advantages under the
honor system Of no effect.
The boys Of the football team ma
turally wished to secure permission
from the board to leave for the week,
for without that permission they
would lose all advantages under the
honor system. Now, with the per-
mission Of the board gained, they
will be excused" for the week by
The principal, Mr.. Incl.
But a question arises. Is it not
hardship on boy or girl who may
iall sick for six or seven days7
Under the rule the pupil who falls
sick for any period over the five
lays must lose all the advantages Of
he honor system, while the football
boys are excused for full week
merely to help carry out the school
athletics.
There has been some criticism Of
his fve-day rule, as there seems to
,e a disposition to think there per
laps should be an exception in the
,ne case Of accident or sickness. If
Joys are TO be given chance to go
lway for week to play football and
IT'LL may retain their claims on the
lonor system, it may not be too
much to ask that a pupil who falls
'ick for six or eight days may also
,e granted some chance to retain the
advantages Of the rule.
Superintendent Clark said last
evening that he thinks the rule
should be changed in the case Of
sickness or accident. He will there
lore propose some proper amend
nent to the board, whereby pupil
1o is kept out BY an unavoidable
necessity may still be given chance
to be advanced without the written
examination, especially in those
cases where the pupil can and will
make up for the time lost
Mr., Clark said that in his opinion,
and in the opinion Of most Of the
teachers, the honor system has
worked extraordinarily well II as-
sures attendance and promptness.
Last year, for example, the average
reached 98.8 per cent
very high record. Ii seems to be
admitted that in individual cases the
rule may sometimes work hardships.
Some times, too, in few cases, II
may prove too much Of an incentive
as for example, in the case Of q
boy or girl wi,o is sickly and should
not be permitted to work too hard.
LURL1NE ON TIME.