The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-11-29
THE CITY SCHOOLS.
Statistics Furnished by Mr.. D. N.
Walker, President School Board.

1 Walker, President School Board.
Two years ago our registration for the
month OF November was $40 whites
272 colored. Last year it was 558 whites
219 colored. You will see that we have
gained over that of two years ago 80
whites, 81 colored; over that of one
year ago 90 whites, ITO cdiered. This
brings our total registration at this time
581 whites, 329 colored-total go. To-
tai increase of 80 above any previous
record.
Two years ago the difference between
Enrolled" and "On Roll" was 35; last
year it was 10; this year it is Is. These
| figures must convince you that we are
progressing in the right direction.
Two years ago the increase in regis
tration for the month of November was
II whites, 9 colored; last year it was
II whites, Is colored; this year it is s
WIllJeS, q COlOTeU.
Exactly twice as many boys have
dropped out as girls, and these all in
the lower grades. Again, l am con-
strained to regret that parents cannot
de more to counteract this stunning of
intellectual growth and consequent cur
failing OF earning capacity. | trust
that you will not lose sight of the fact
that as citizenship we must investi-
gate the merits of Sectional training
extended well into the grades. 1t is
possible that agencies may yet develop
to make possible our vision of "All
education for all pupils from the low
est to the highest.
The tqeuty have worked out few
statistic This month which may prove
of intehSt.
Percentage - attendance for first
quarter; High School, 97.6; high gram
mar, 9S.3; fifth grade, 95.4; fourth
grade, 81; third grade, 90; second grade,
80; first grade, o.
Total number of days absences dur
ing first quarter; High School-Twelfth
grade, ,; eleventh grade, 4 tenth grade,
81; ninth grade, "a. High Grammar
Eighth grade, II; seventh grade, 81 !
sixth grade, IS. Fifth grade, 143;
fourth grade, 252; third grade, 1885, (
second grade, 1873; first grade, 2SS. 7
You will notice that the lower down
you go in the grades the greater are the
absences. This is not due to any cpl
lemic nor bad weather, for we have had
neither this fall. 1t is not to be ac-
counted for by the larger grades, the
urther down you go, for the senior
lass in the High School is the smallest
trade in school one-fifth that of the
anger grade; and yet if we would equal
re the size, even then the largest grade
you'd have record of absences twen-
y-ive/ times greater than that of the
ighest class i'll school,
The plain truth is that mothers and
athers allow this laxity of attendance
t just the place where they can easily
ontrol it. They either do not or will
OF see that the foundation is Of more
Importance than the superstructure. If
Ick OF regularity in attendance robs
lie child of solidity in his education :
len no wonder that upper classes are
in progress. We need more d
lrental influence along this line and
specially in the lower grades. In the
Ugh School and High Grammar Hall
lie girls outnumber the boys in their |
osences three to one.
| would be pleased to publish a list
those perfect in attendance but it
ould be cumbersome for any paper.
ne percentage OF perfect attendance is:
High School, IA; high grammar,
20; fifth grade. 515; fourth grade,
!; third grade, 46; second grade, 81;
st grade, II.