Putnam patriot., 1916-02-11
SCHOOL REPORT
Schools Close on Account Of TIE Grip
Evening Class Attendance Decreasing
Vocational Training Along Broader Lines

submit herewith my report of the
public schools for the month Of Janu-
airy.
On jar. 10 there were enrolled In the
public schools $40 pupils, of whom 42d
were boys and Alb girls, The average
membership for the month OF January
was 695 MS compared with IA for the
month of December, falling OIL Of ~.
The average attendance for the mont.
of January was 707 as compared with
$3.50 for December, an increase of 1875.
During January the days absences
totnl 1923 against 1916 for December.
In January So pupils we're tardy 10
times as compared with 1855 instances
of tardiness for 50 pupils In December,
an improvement. 295 were perfect in
attendance during January, a decrease
of y from December The member
ship nj the end of the month was 729
rs compared with 765 for the month of
December.
January's poor attendance WINS due
partly to continued heavy colds, but
the poor attendance the last Of the
month was due partly to bad travel
Ing The roads outside the city, even the
State road strips being in fearful con-
dition. During January the teachers
have suceumbed ic the grip and II has
been a difficult matter to iind tempo
rary teachers for the schools. Two
schools were closed one for two days,
Smith street primary, and the East
Putnam school for three days. My ex
perlence has been TINT IL is as well To
close school for short periods in The alb
senee of the regular teacher, better In
fact, than that the school should be
put In charge of an unframed or mex
perienced teacher have filled In for
teachers in the grades and In the high
school during the month.
The evening school attendance has
been steadiy dropping from shcsib0
high mark until at present the night
ly attendance runs from 81 to 81. Va.
rlons reasons have been assigned for
the apparent lack Of interest, one Of
which Is as good Ms another AS the
school Is now organ ICED, there~are five
distinct classes doing work from The
lowest grades TO the high school and
the work Is being done by four teach
ers.
A - Ia hat
will give The boys who are now restfic-
ted TO wood working, choice Of wood
working, machine shop work or text
lie work for one afternoon IA week in
stead Of wood working forstwo hours
week as has been 1.-The rule for u past
year and half. This | am positive Is
progressive step, n step that gives
the Putnam schools a higher rating
than Is enjoyed by other town systems
where such arrangements cannot east
ly be made.
1 am submitting with this report
some committee reports that have been
submitted to the Parent-Teachers' AS
ISOLATION and would suggest that they
be accepted and filed. Some Of the re-
Communications tally with rscommen-
dstions that have already made.
Some Of the recommendations made
by these committees arc well worth
consideration, notably the, recommen.
dation that electric lights be provided
In each OF the school rooms lat the Is
raei Putnam School. On two occasions
during January II was necessary to
close the schools on account of the
darkness. No work requiring close
application to books could be safely
done.
AS this report Is written conditions
AS regards attendance are getting back
to normal. Respectfully submitted,
IL. w. FILEs, Superintendent
Daring January the truant lofficer
has written two letters and made fif-
teen personal visits. There has been
much absence from school but 1t has
been largely on account OF sickness.
Some persons are still inclined to cher
trivial reasons for keeping children
out. For example carrying dinners 10
such distances that the child does not
return In time for the opening Of The
session, Is not . sufficient excuse for
ab,artfrn n far N sffarnpon