Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-22
VISITING TEACHERS AID
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Through Their Efforts Rural In
struction Has Been Far
Advanced.

Two years aCo tho average child in
rural Delaware attended school 50
days during tho year Last year the
average attendance was lS4 days and
so far this term the average for tho
year promises to I've $50 days. This
increase in attendance is due largely
20 the work OF the visiting teachers
This is the second year since the
State Legislature passed a compuls-
ory attendance law, which did not
provide In its budget. however, for
any attendance officers 20 enforce the
law. The Service Citizens appropri-
ated $4,000 FOR a Visiting Teachers
Association, Four teachers were ap-
pointed 10 act as attendance officers
;hrouShou, tho State. Miss Laura
Richards and Mrs. Mabel Rggin are
located in Sussex county; Miss Leila
Thomas in Kent; Mrs. y. Il. Il.
MousleN. IN New Castle county. These
visiting teachers in Delaware are try
ing 10 40 by moral Suas.on what al
most every other state IS attempting
to accomplish by compulson. The
school attendance all over the State
last year was over 90 per cent and
/ this year several schools have had 100
| per cent attendance during the first
two months.
II a child IS ahSen; three days with
out legal excuse that :, sickness
| quarantine. or death in the family. or
If he is absent one day week for
/ several weeks. The visiting teacher
goes 10 his home to discover the diff
hcu,ty. If child is in poor health.
D a..
notified. For instance, boy whose
attendance had been very erratic was
restored to health by having diseas-
! ed bone removed from his nose. II
a child is iuhercular. the case is re-
! ferred 70 the state tuberculosis Com
/ mission. j. child cannot attend be-
| cause Of lack Of decent clothing, the
visiting teacher attempts 10 secure
clothing and shoes for him. In "a seS
Of extreme poverty. she gets a
grocery order from the Trustees Of the
Poor The child sometimes is will
fully truant or comes of a shiftless
family; in that case. the visiting
teacher orders him hack to school. and
IN case Of disobedience, refers him Il
the State Board OF Education.
There is much poverty among farm
laborers this year because the low
market price Of wheat and corn makes
wages for husking corn or storing
wheat very poor. This means that
without outside help, large families OF
children viii not have clothes to at
tend school. At Christmas. through
the local teachers. the visiting teach
.ers will sec that the poor children re-
ceive clothing and toys. They vii
be glad 10 receive any articles FOR
distribution.
Another function of the visiting
teacher il 20 act as peace maker
Often children misrepresent theiI
teacher and school mates tC
{ their parents, who are enfurated anC
! yet viii not investigate. The visit
ing teacher presents both sides Of tn,
question 10 both parents and teacher!
, and usually satisfactory adjustmen
is made. In some cases the visiting
J teacher also acts as peace maker be
tween the teacher and the schoo
! trustees.
The visiting teacher also finds chill
e. dren who must be dealt with through
fsome other agency. Mr.. Lord, of tn
2 Delaware Chiidren's Home Society
a the Child Welfare Commission, an
other organizations. as well as tn
: Child Labor Commission, cooperate
Sometimes cases of feeble minde
. children are found. who are examine
frequently by a psychopathist Tn
= worst cases are admitted TO the col
ony for feeble-minded at StoclSley.
Last year, with the aid of the loca