The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-05-28

to the teachers of public schools.
Parents should report to the teachers
when their children cannot attend
school and in this way much trouble
may be avoided. If your child cannot
attend school, let the teacher know
so that when the report is sent in
we may know that the absence is excus-
able. II no such report is made and the
child does not attend or attends very
irregularly, it is very clear what my
duty is in the matter.
Just a word right here regarding the
children who go "to instruction" or go
"to the minister" day or two each
week. Such instruction can not be re-
garded as equivalent to regular pnbic
or parochial school work, but am will
ing to do this;
Let the person who gives such in
structions keep register and at the end
of such instruction period or at the end
of the year certificate of attendance
may be granted to the pupil showing
how many days he has attended This
number may then be applied on his ac-
count in making out his 12O days,
Let us suppose that child in attend
ing such instruction goes two days
week, Wednesdays and Saturdays. 1t
may be possible that in eight months
time pupil would attend in all about
80 days. There would still be four days
of the week left for the child to attend
public school and the required 60 days
additional could be made up during the
winter months. When the public school
teacher reports the attendance of the
pupil at the end of the year the number
of days attendance at instruction may
be designated also.
Let it not be understood that it is the
purpose nor the desire of this Office to
interfere with religious instruction. On
the other hand believe it is the duty
of the church to impart this knowledge
to the young and thus make use of this
most valuable agency for developing
character. But taking child entirely
out of school for year or two is not
for the best interest of the child either
educationally or spiritually. When he
does return to school afterwards, he
is usually so behind his class mates
that he soon loses all interest in the
work A better way is to let him
attend the school the days he does not
go to instruction and carry part of the
work at least. In some cases arrange
ments may be made with the teacher
that some of the work may be dropped
for the year in case the child finds it too
difficult to carry it all.
The law also provides that the child
rem shall be enrolled in school by the
opening Of the second month of school
/ realize that there is much work in the
fall and that the larger children are
needed for some of this work. In some
cases it may not be possible, with the
ctolSitJ VI lai uVlp, " Stl 'Ic Stl
children to school by the first of Octo
Der. But try to get them there as early
as possible. When they do start, let them
attend regularly. If they begin the
middle of October, or even Il little later,
they will be able to get in their 10 days
before spring work. Please talk to your
teacher about this matter Let him
know about what time your child can
start and the fact will be given me on
the report
We now know just how the law will
De carried out and we can work together
in better harmony. The state realizes that
its own safety depends upon the educa
tion of its young and has given us the
work of executing its command. 1t is
only in cases Of negligence that the state
assumes partial guardianship. 1t is the
duty Of the state to secure the rights to
all people and among its people are the
children who are to become its future
citizens. A thorough common school
education is every childs heritage and
we have no moral right to deprive him
Of it. Do not blame the teacher. He is
simply doing his duty. If You do yours
no adverse report can be sent in. Do
not blame the school clerk. The law
compels him to report Let us all work
together and all will be well
TIIOROUGUNESS,