The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-10-15
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. E. LARSON.


come nearer being correct than any pre-
vious year. More care has been taken
to get the exact figures from original
sources and it is also true that very few
errors, if any, have been made in tran.
scribing. Yet there is need of an explain.
alton regarding this number
This number does not mean that there
were S26 children who did not go to
school during the past year. 1t means
that according TO the records obtainable
there were S26 children between the
ages of and IA who did not attend
either public or a parochial school 100
days the last year (or 100 days in the
city,
There are many children in our coun-
ty who attend public school part of the
time and parochial the rest. In many
cases the pupils attendance at these two
schools if added together would equal
and exceed the l20 days r'quired. We
had no means of ascertaning these facts
however, rs the clerks have two items
to fiji out, one for the public school at
tendance, the other for the parochal at
tendance and these two are separate.
An attempt will be made this year to
ascertain the true facts regarding this
class of children and give due credit
therefor in the next report.
1t should also be remembered that in
several cases children were prevented
from getting in their 1870 days because
of sickness, bad roads, or other causes
La some localities schools had to be clos
ed part of the time because of small pox
or diphtheria. Families were quafan.
tined and thus children were kept ont
of school for some time. Some children
live over two miles from school and it is
often difficult for such to attend six
months out of the eight or nine
Many of the S26 attended almost the
1870 days In many cases we find child
rem who have 1001l9 days to their ere.
dit.
1t should also be remembered that the
agitation of the compulsory attendance
law did not begin until November.
Many children were gotten into school,
some of them having attended but very
little before this. but it was not possible
for them to get in the 100 days.
This year we intend to reduce this
number very materially. OF course it
is not to be expected that it can be re
duced to zero, but 1926" il too big
Now that every family knows about the
law we can go at its enforcement with
greater vigor. We have the name of
every child "a 20 years in the county on
file in the Office. AT the end of every
month the teacher sends in the attend
ance of every child in her school during
that month and the matter il checked
up. LII this way we shall soon be able
to locate the delinquents. We believe,
however, that there will be very few
The spirit of the times is for education
and as a rule parents are dong their
very best to give their children the op.
portunity to secure 1t.
Right here il might be we'll to state
that not all of the census lists have been
received from the district clerks We
shall soon need them now for compari-
son. Every mail brings in the first
months reports from the teachers.
Several OF the parochiai schools have
voluntarily offered to make report of
attendance in their schools This is not
compulsory by law, but as regular at
tendance is as essential to good work in
| these as in the public schools this offer
has been made. 1t will thus be possible
to check up all the children in these
sections from which complete repor is
can be obtained,
| After we have systematized the work
of the county, if we have the time we
shall check up the children Of the city.
Remarks have been made that there are
children in the city who do not attend
school. As the city is part of the
county this will be necessary in order to
get complete and accurate report
1t will be seen by anyone who has had
any experience in Office work that this
is a big undertaking and will require
considerably time and labor. Yet it is
but a small part of the work that the
county superintendent is supposed to do
Much help can be given in this matter
if all work together. 1t is great re.
lief to our work if the reports from the
teachers are carefully and accurately
made Parents can also aid materially
by letting the teachers know the canse
of non attendance on the part of the
children Very often visit by the sher
if may thus be avoided. Remember the
sheriff is the truant officer and it ia his
| duty to ascertain the causes Of absence
and irregular attendance This il not
! the superintendent work.
Let us during the coming year reduce
the S26.
Those who intend to attend the Mil
waukee Convention Nov. IL IA can ea.
roll with the county superintendent.
Membership fee-men 81 CO. women 4. 30.
| A membership ticket IL necessary in