The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-02-09
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING
PRINCIPAL FOR JANUARY
|. Statistical

|. Statistical
Number Oh roll. 6l2; days present,
9049; days absent, 1890 5; times tardy,
eco; per cent. of attendance, 20 per
cent.
1t will be seen that we have lost dur
ing the month 25 per cent. of the num-
Der of days attendance. This indi-
Gates an increase rather than falling
off in irregularity. As mentioned in
my last report, l have prepared
table, based on careful investigation
by the teachers of the causes for this
low rate of attendance. Following il
the table for the first three weeks of
the month, accounting for approxim-
ately 1900 Of the 5000 days absence.
The figures of the table are in half
days:
Sickness, miscellaneous, 1910 go
per cent; epidemies. 23s-5.5 per
cent; colds, 7S5-17.5 per cent; deli
cate, l74-4 per cent; quarantined.
mot sick) Sc 10 per cent; sickness
in family, ll7-2.5 per cent; storm.
995-23 per cent; work, 1854 5 per
cent. lack of proper clothing, 8; care
of younger children, Is; truancy, 65-
1.5 per cent; suspension, West AM
welll. 51-l.5 per cent; out of city,
70-1.5 per cent; miscellaneous
cause, 46-l per cent. no cause, 24S-
$50 per cent. unknown cause, GAG
90 per cent. Allowing ! of the "un
known causes" to be illness, it is sure
that 90 per cent. OF the irregularity is
due to sickness alone and SO per cent.
to sickness and bad weather. Only
about per cent. are due to prevent
able causes, truancy and parental ne
glect, rate which will hardly be
lowered until action under the COM
pulsory education law is taken in some
of the most fragrant cases.
III. Mid-year Examinations.
The results of the January examine
tions are decidedly satisfactory. Con-
sidering the amount of absence they
are surprisingly good Promotions
were very general throughout the
grades, though the exact figures are
not yet tabulated. In the eighth
grade the "loose" organization has
justified itself. Under the former
system all pupils were retained in
eighth grade subjects the entire year.
Following are the numbers in those
subjects which are regularly succeed
ed by high school subjects: Arithme-
tic 81, Grammar 81, Geography 90, U.
S. History 90.
These numbers are beyond our cal
eulations and make necessary the
ordering OF several sets of high school
books. New classes are now organ
lied in Physical geography. Algebra,
Greek aud Roman History, aud First
Year English. We expect later to
organize the long deferred course in
drawing and to resume instruction in
grade German.
III. Defective Children
l feel it my duty to call your atten-
ton definitely to the fact that there
are several children in the school who
are entirely out of place in the public
schools. II is an unfortunate condi-
ton aud one to be spoken of with the
utmost sympathy Yet it remains
true that not only do these children
take an enormous amount of time and
nervous energy from the teacher, at
the expense of normal pupils and with
no appreciable benefit to themselves,
but also that in some cases these child
rem are positive menace to other
children IN the same school. Incor-
rigibility, unreasonable aud ungovern-
able fits of temper, and incapacity to
learn should be sufficient causes for
their removal from the schools. But
in one case, at least, even their play is
dangerous, it taking the form of jabb-
ing with sticks and pencils, as often
as not at another's eyes. / would mr.
gently recommend that committee
of the board, with the medical inspect
or, investigate these cases for snch
action as may seem Just aud neces-
sary.
~. Inadequate School Facilities.
For three years the providing of
suitable accommodations for proper
conduct of the city schools has been
one of the serious problems before the
board Of education. There has been |
necessary variety of make shifts,
generally expensive and on the whole |
unsatisfactory. The Second Ward |
School is an intending source of an
noyance from it's environment and in
adequate accommodations There are
needed ut this time two additional re-
gular teachers for the successful |
carrying out Of the present course of |
study. We are renting or using now
more to say the least. In the high |
school the recitation aud laboratory
arrangements ought never to be re-
garded as snitable-let alone perma-
nent. In the room now used by the
Latin and Science department, four
lines of work are being carried on at |
practically the same time.
We have considerable library of |
text books and general volumes for
the proper storage and use OF which
separate room is necessary. But most
OF all do we feel the lack of an assem-
bly, room, suitable not only for all
forms of day assembly but for evening
use. The school should maintain a
conrse of evening lectures aud should
give from time to time other forms Of
evening entertainment. There is in
this city no room suitable for public
assembly use, incredible as that would
seem to an outsider. In the city