Milford chronicle., 1922-03-31
BETTER SCHOOL AT
TENDANCE IN THE STATE

All agencies working for educational
progress in Delaware are interested in
better school attendance.
During the last four years. the State
has made phenomnal growth in school
attendance. During the school year
19I7-191S, the school boys and girls at
tended on the average of only 80 days;
the year 191S-1919. 80 days; the year
1919-2O, 1O9 days; the year 192O-21, 134
days. Within four years time, A days
Cor two school mOnths) were added to
the time attended school by our boys
and girls. What will this years record
be?
If children are not in school, can the
teachers teach them? The home, in
many cases, has abdicated in favor of
the schools; but, if the children fail to
attend school regularly. they cannot ex-
pect to progress in their school work.
How can a pupil who attends school 100
or even 100 days compete with a pupil
who attends school 100 to 18O days?
For the sake of the children and for
the sake of the future of the State, par
ents, guardians, and friends of education,
are asked to help to secure the best
school attendance possible.
The School Attendance Law requires
that all children between the ages of sew
en- and fourteen shall attend school, each
day of the minimum school year of one
hundred sixty days.
Children between the ages of fourteen
and sixteen who have not completed the
work of the eighth grade, should attend
school not less than one hundred (100)
days, as nearly consecutive as possible,
beginning not later than November first
unless it can be shown and witnessed
by written endorsement-that each child
is elsewhere receiving regular and thor
ough instruction during the said mini
mum school year in the subjects pre-
scribed for the elementary school of the
State"
May we urge that visiting be arranged
for week-ends when the children will
not have to lose time from business, for
you understand, of course, that going to
school is the child's business just the
same as going to work is your business.
We are asking for your cooperation in
this matter for the sake of your child.
May we not count on help from all, even
to the extent of some sacrifice.
The following reasons are regarded as
sufficient to excuse absence:
1. The illness Of the child WIN is alb
sent.
2. The quarantine of the home of the
child.
g. A death in the family.
L. A storm so severe that the child
cannot get to school,
s. A certificate from a regular physi-
clan to the effect that the child is physi-
cally or mentally unable to attend.
6. Working at agricultural pursuits
for children under IA years, provided they
enter by October LIST, and attend at least
12O days.
If child is out of school for any of
the above reasons, the parent or guard
ian should please notify the teacher inn
mediately.
If the child is out of school for other
reasons than those mentioned, parents or
guardian should arrange to have the
child return to school at once.
In this day of progress and develop
ment, when the benefits Of education are
so apparent, it seems idle to argue
either for or against education as a most
powerful means for the promotion Of the
general welfare Of the people. Ignor-
ance ever has been the everlasting enc
my of freedom in a democracy. Thomas !
jefferson said: "If a nation expects to
be ignorant and free, in a state of civ
ilization, it expects what never was and
never will be-" Education of all classes
of people is, the best means Of promot- |
ing the prosperity of Delaware.
Every child is entitled to an education. |
It is quite unfair to tax man to edu-
cate his neighbor's child and then per-
init the neighbor to keep that child out |
of school.
The visiting teachers in the three |
counties are cooperating with teachers,
parents, and guardians in stimulating |
public opinion and sentiment for better |
school attendance. Henry Ward Bee
cher said: Private opinion is weak, but |