Smyrna times., 1922-03-22
HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
IN STATE OF DELAWARE
ALL AGENCIES WORKING FOR
PROGRESS IN DELAWARE.
Interest In Better School Attendance
Is Taking Hold of All Communi-
ties.-Smyrna Interested.


girls attended on the average of only
80 days; the year 1888, 92 days; the
year 1920, 109 days; the year 1920
21, 134 days. Within four years
time, A days (or two school months) |
were added to the time attended |
school by our boys and girls. What |
will this years record be If chill |
dren 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 at
tend school regularly, they cannot ex-
pect to progress in their school work. |
How can pupil who attends school
100 or even 12O days compete with
pupil who attends school 100 or $50
days? For the sake of the children
and for the sake of the future of the
State, parents, guardians and friends
of education, are asked to help to Sc
cure tire best school attendance pos
sible.
School Attendance Law is Urged.
The School Attendance Law re-
quires that all children between the
ages of seven and fourteen shall at
tend school, each day of the minimum
school year of one hundred and 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 (1OO) days, as near
ly consecutive as possible, beginning
not later than November first; "unless
1T can be shown and witnessed by
written endorsement-that each child
is elsewhere receiving regular and
thorough instruction during the said
minimum school year in the subjects
prescribed for the elementary schools
of the State. May we urge that visit
ing 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 60
ing to work is your business.
Cooperation In Matters For the Child
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
service? The following reasons are
regarded as sufficient to excuse alb
sence:
The illness of the child who is
absent.
2.-The quarantine of the home of
the child.
"A death in the family.
A storm so severe that the child
| cannot get to school.
5.-A certificate from a regular ply
,sician to the effect that the child is
physically or mentally unable to at
tend.
= 6.-Working at agricultural pur-
r suits for children under Ia years, pro-
vided they enter by October 1st, anC
attend at least 120 days.
If child is out of school for any ot
the above reasons, the parent or guar
dian should notify the teacher imme
diately. If the child is out of schoo
for other reasons than those mention
ed, parents or guardians should ar
range to have the child return t.
school at once. In this day of prog
reSS and development, when the bene
fits of education are so apparent, j
seems idle to argue either for o.
against education as a most powerful
means for the promotion of the gener
al welfare of the people. Ignorance
ever has been the everlasting enem!
). of freedom in a democracy. Thoma
E Jefferson said: "If a nation ex
II poets to be ignorant and free, in
d state of civilization, it expects wha
never, was and never will be-" Edu
cation of all classes of people is tn
' best means of promoting the prosperi
ty of Delaware.
Every Child Entitled to Education
Every child is entitled to an educa
e tion. 1t is quite unfair to tax ma
to educate his neighbor's child an
then permit the neighbor to keep tn
child out of school.
: The visiting teachers in the thre
counties are cooperating with teach
ers, parents, and guardians in stimu
lating public opinion and sentiment fo
better school attendance. Henr
Ward Beecher said: private opinio
is weak, but public opinion is almos
omnipotent." Public sentiment Wi
count for much in the administrator
of the Compulsory School Attendant
Law in Delaware. The benefits of thi
democratic measure accrue to tn
\ masses Service citizens have been co
operating with the State Board of Ed
ucation for the past two school year
in securing better attendance in tn
schools of Delaware. Individual pu
pil. award cards and school flags an
pictures have helped much in the cam
paign for better attendance.
The following theory all agencies fo
lSchoo1 irnnrovarnant have haan work