Milford chronicle., 1915-11-26
SAN EVIL IN DELAWARE SCHOOL


In his latest pamphlet publication
about school matters, DR.. Charles A.
Wagner, State superintendent of edu-
cation, points out, in a convincing and
somewhat startling manner, the evils
of irregular attendance of pupils in
the rural and town public schools of
this State, especially the former. He
gives figures, secured by examination
of prevailing conditions, which reveal
the evils that are sure to follow when
due attention is not paid to the import
ant matter of regular attendance by
all pupils.
The somewhat startling result of
DR.. Wagner's Investigations is shown
by the manner in which he learned
that irregular attendance affects
standing in classes. In the first grade
of schools, the proper age Of the child
ren is 6 to 7 years. His observations
showed in the first grade of town
schools pupils range in age from 6
to 13 years, and in rural schools the
same; second grade, proper age, TO
8 years, from 6 to 15 years il town
schools and to y years in rural
schools. And so sla contrast continu- !
ed In all the grades, the eighth, for |
which the proper age is 13 to IA years, |
showing pupils from IL to s years in |
town schools and IL to 20 years in
rural schools.
The general result showed that in
the first grades of the schools from
which the observations were taken,
the percentage of pupils Of the proper
age was SO for town schools and Il
for rural schools. Second grade, 60
s-I
fourth, 81 and So; fifth, 46 and 40;
sixth, 81 and 40; seventh, so and 30;
eighth, 81 and 33. The town schools
make better showing than the rural {
schools, but they do not stand as they
should.
This discrepancy in ages in all the {
grades may be due to some extent to |
differences in the mental capacity of {
'upils, condition which practically i
lefies correction, although it may be
much ameliorated no doubt, by special 7
Instruction involving particular at 0
entiOn to individual casesa procedure t
ardly possible under q public school a
ystem. But DR.. Wagner's Observa- v
ions proved that by far the greater p
xtent Of the evil is the result Of irreg-
lar attendance. When pupils miss il
bic to keep pace with those who at II
end regularly. The greater the ir- Ii
agularity, the greater discrepancy in VI
le ages Of pupils in a grade, and the d.
vii naturally extends to all the grades pl
lcreasing in extent with the higher 80
rades. z
The longer this evil is permitted to go
lchecked, the worse the results will
If ig ~ 70 3
pupil of larger growth to be forced
associate in classes with small
lildren. The situation acts as a
lndicap upon the older children, in
ting them to continued indifference
ther to increased efforts to make :.
1ends for lost time by increased dill IF
ence in study. Also, it tends to en-
urage pupils in the desire to leave to
hool as soon as possible. M 1E
This condition should be materially E
lended through the influence of the
Associations, now so
numerous in this State lbs
a result of the able administration M
DR.. Wagner. At the meetings of ~
ese associations, the condition may
laid plainly before the parents by /
2 teachers, and the parent may ap- M
2 the remedy. The latter may, if E
ey will enforce the regular attend El
ce of their children at school, save k#
Iy unavoidable causes arise to com #
absence. Let us hope, now that #3
Wagner has so plainly and effec- Ds5
ely called attention to the evil con-
ions that prevail as a result of poor kai
endance at our public schools, the D
'ents will unite with the teachers I
about a substantial reform. E#
Every Evening. E: