The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1919-01-23
ATTENTION CALLED TO
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(Continued from Dag onel


operations at first hand where they
may learn for themselves what its
merits, demerits, and difficulties are.
Since we do not have the privilege to
discuss school affairs in person with
many Of our patrons and since the
school exists for the good of all the
people and is supported in turn by all,
and since it must be made to serve all
in the most efficient manner if the peo-
pie get value return for their invest
ments, we wish, therefore, through the
papers to call their attention to some
of the chief obstacles which tend to
decrease its efficiency.
Of course we know that it is Gus
tomary to point out to the public all
the good qualities of their school and
leave the poor ones in the background.
But let us ask ourselves if such a poll
cy will help out with the difficulties
that confront us, for we believe it is
cur duty to have the parents look ear
nestly at some of the problems we
have to meet, and consider for them,
selves if they may not assist by lend
ing helping hand.
The problem in which we are most
DESTROYS of their cooperation is secur-
ing more regular attendance. This
we believe the parent can help to i'm
prove and trust that they will take an
interest in doing so after being in
formed of the following facts and help
boost for education's sake if not othr-
wise:
During the first half year we should
have taught eighty days. eve actual
ly taught fifty-fve days. We lost
twenty-five days or thirty per cent of
the time. No one but the teacher and
the well-meaning pupil can appreciate
what it means to lost twenty-five reci-
tations from a subject. In the light
OF this the most regular pupil cannot
hope for the best results. Now if
those who have sent their children
rregulaly cannot hope for the best re-
suits in the face of the above difficult
ties what can those hope for who con-
tributed directly to the following
facts: For five grades: In one grade
we find twenty per cent of the pupils
irregular in attendance. In another
there are twenty-one per cent of the
pupils irregular in attendance. For
another grade there are twenty-three
per cent of the pupils irregular in at
tendance. Again another grade TWEEN
ty-six per cent irregular. And now
for the climax, one grade in the school
shows thirty-fve per cent of the pu-
pills irregular in attendance. Can the
parents help out in this difficulty I?
Can they expect the best of progress
for those who are irregular or for
these who are regular in attendance
when the teacher has to give so much
OF her time helping those who have
lest connection with work because
they were absent? Suppose we have
"a get-to-gether' about the matter.
See the teachers and principal and
talk it over. 1t will do US all good.
In the five grades above at the time
data were collected there were enroll
ed two hundred and seven pupils. OF
this number twenty-five, per cent are
irregular in attendance. All these pu-
pills are absent from school on an
average of one day each week. Many
of them are absent days and we can
not get any trace of them by using
ordinary means and when we do get
un with one there seems to be no valid
excuse for his being absent. Once IN
awhile pupil comes back to class
and eneers as stranger so far as
teacher is concerned until she becomes
Convinced by a careful inedview that
she had enrolled him sometime in the
past. If we are not mistaken one
came in after Christmas for his first
time since the first week of school.
No further space is necessary to
point out to parents our needs. 1t is