The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-04-22
How | Have Increased the Attendance
Of Ny School.
(By Mrs. c. F. White, OF Halifax County,

The following paper was written
by Mrs. c. F. White and read at the
last meeting Of the Halifax County
Teachers Association. 1t appeared
in the last issue of North Carolina
Education
A year ago while reviewing for
examination preparatory to teaching
the school near my home, l read
thoroughly the school laws Of North
Carolina, and noticed that special
emphasis YVES given to attendance,
the law showing that the attendance
of the rural schools was not such as it
should be. | became interested, and
resolved that | would see what could
be done in my school to make the at
tendance creditable.
The school l have reference to was
without a register, and / was in
formed by patrons and pupils that
the enrolment for several years had
not been more than fifteen. the aver
age scarcely ten, and that the school
had been taught for weeks with on
ly six pupils. Before | began teach
ing, | visited Or sent messages to
every patron of the school stating
when the school would begin, and
requesting them, if possible, to send
their children the first day. Since
the opening day I have tried to con-
vince the irregular pupils Of the ut
ter impossibility of advancement
when their attendance was perhaps
one-half, or even tWo-thirds, of the
time.
At interval of few months, / have
tried to give some kind of entertain
ment, At the close Of the term last
May, after the closing exercises, We
served cream and cake to the pupils,
patrons, and friends of the school.
We have celebrated North Carroll
ma day, Washington and Lees birth
day, and have even had Valentine
parties. Christmas night at my home
we had a beautiful Christmas tree
for the children.
The pupils contributed the fruits
and candy. remembered each child
with an inexpensive gift and fur
nished the decorations, while a
neighbor furnished the candles. The
children hung gifts Oh the tree for
their school-mates and friends. The
cost of the tree was not so much,
but the delight of the children fully
repaid me for my expense and
trouble. To the majority of the
children this will be remembered as
their first Christmas tree. They are
now looking forward to an Easter
Egg hunt or roll.
These occasional festivities do not
cost much. They do not interfere
with the children's studies, but they
do greatly increase the children S and
parents interest in the school, and
bring little more sunshine into
their lives.
We gave a box party few weeks
ago to raise funds for supplement
tary library land to paint our school
house. This was the purpose, but l
really think the bringing together of
patrons, pupils, teacher, and friends
and their mingling together in pleas
ant conversation, discussing the
school needs, was worth equally as
much, if not more, to all of US than
the money raised.
When I first began teaching this
school, the least rain would keep al
most the whole school at home. This
term have had full attendance al
most every day, and learning wisdom
from the industrious ant, during
pleasant weather we store away fuel
SO that we may be comfortable the
proverbial rainy day." On the
rainy day we always have something
extra, a story read, recitations, or
some special exercise.
One Of the most pleasant and at
tractive features Of our school is the
singing exercises. My pupils are
familiar with all the patriotic airs
and not a few Sunday-school hymns
l hope that you will not think we
are too ambitious when say that W.
are trying to devise means now, il
our school-house is enlarged, to buy
a small organ. The children Of the
towns do not appreciate this as much
as the country pupils, as the former
have the advantages of Sunday
school. But in our community, a
least, so per cent seldom, if ever, q
to any Sunday-school.
At the children's request, l have
the Sunday-school lesson for my Fri
day morning exercise. | think all O.
, my children know the twenty-thirc
Psalm, the Ten Commandments, anc
are familiar with the principal Bible
stories.
Last and narhapc INV rroo foo