The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-10
Gives
Title for
School Job
Attendance Officer Can
Tell Status as Soon as
Door Opens.
BY ELIZABETH CARR

Sometimes she is a school attend
ance visitor. Sometimes she is a
school attendance officer. And some
times she is just plain truant
officer.
But the minute a Marion County
home door is opened to her, Mrs.
Elizabeth Tyre, county attendance
officer, knows just what her title is
to be.
The willful absence of children
from school and the parents will
fullness in keeping their children
out of school decreased one-half last
semester Sept. l to Jan. 80 from
the preceding semester. There were
about six willful truants last
semester.
The problem confronting Mrs.
Tyre today is the realization that
the family problems and behavior
problems both in and out of school
almost have doubled. For the last
semester a year ago they totaled 81,
and for the semester just completed
they numbered 38.
eff I had a school room for par
ents, I might work myself out of a
job" Mrs. Tyre said.
Our family problems, she con-"
tinued, "have included making the
parents realize the necessity for
children attending school, hints on
dressmaking, suggestions as to f.
nances and even bringing families
back together again after separa-
ton. Most of the mothers seem to
let loose and tell woman many
things they would not tell man"
Always Get Second Chance
AS for the informal cases, OF which
there are no court records, they al
ways are given a second chance,
according to the officer. Sometimes
the Juvenile Court workers go out
with Mrs. Tyre. When their efforts
fail, some action then is taken.
One woman whose marital prob
lens had been solved for her,
thanked Mrs. Tyre:
"You know, it took an outsider to
see what was going on. Why, all
we did was spit at each other"
"a great many of the parents
don't realize the Importance of their
children attending school," said Mrs
Tyre. "They seem to think, I'll
just keep him home to go to the
grocery store In one school in
Wayne township, one half of the
eighth grade arrived at the school
house late. Upon questioning the
pupils I found one boy had made
four trips to the grocery store be-
fore coming to school"
It was during that below-zerc
weather that one mother told Mrs
Tyre she couldn't see any sense in
sending her children to school,"
II had to explain to her." Mrs
Tyre said, what a. fine situation
would result if every one felt that
way. If we're going to conduct
school, all the pupils should be pres
ent to receive the benefits.
Found Family in Bed
AT one home in nearby town.
ship Mrs. Tyre found the mother
and the four children still in bed
at 8 in the morning.
81 made them get dressed, and
took the children to school," she
said, with a hint of f1rmness in her
voice.
Mrs. Tyre called upon one boy who
had stayed at home because his
shoe hurt his heel.
But he didn't complain about his
heel when I stopped by and brought
him to school," she said
It usually takes one talk with the
parents of these pupils to make
them realize the Importance OF
regular attendance, but it is a rare
case when they don't cooperate
after they understand, Mrs. Tyre
has found
In her three years as attendance
officer, Mrs. Tyre admits she has
realized a youthful ambition to hold
the position. In reply to one prin-
SlDd1 y I6IlldIk. WOullIl 1ldNS
your job for a million dollars" Mrs
Tyre answered:
"And I wouldn't trade it for
yours"
In January Mrs. Tyre was elected
president of the James WhitcomE
Riley group of attendance officer
which includes officers in Boone
Hamilton, Hancock, Hen d ric k S
Johnson, Morgan, Shelby and Mar
ion counties and indianapolis, Shell
byville and Greenfield.
She enjoys working with people
Prior to her social service work with
Miss Hannah Noone she was con-
nected with organization work. She
is Past Matron of Brightwood
Chapter, o. E. S. and a past presi-
dent of the Harold 9. McGrew
Auxiliary, United Spanish War
Veterans