Year: 1859

-O
with our common school system, arises from
the thoushtlessness and negligence of par
euts. We allude TO the irregular attendance
of children at school. The scheel returns of
Massachusetts show that the average atteh-
dance of scholars regularly enrolled in the
public schools is only about seventy.fve per
cent. One-fourth Of the whole number are
habitually absent. One-quarter of the edu-
cation whichsthe childrensshould receive is
lost by their absence. Oue.quarter of the
privileges is literally provided for all by the
public, are thrown away. One quarter of
the 81 ,474 ,4SS raised last year for the-snp-
port of schools, was uselessly expehded.A
Only small fraction of this pon-attendance
can be regarded as unavoidable. All who
are at an familiar with our schools, know
that in the great majority of cases, it arises
from insufficient causes. The evil maybe
ascribed mainly to that parental weakness
which permits the child to rule and to thut
thoughtlessness which robs him Of au-iaestt-
mable boon for the sake of little present
gain or convenience. There are parents who
hold up to the minds of their children the
privilege of absence from school as a REGARD
for fidelity and obedience at home.


It must be evident to any one, on a mo.


ment'sI reflection, that the effects Of useless
absence from school must be very rnischie-
vous, not only to the irregular pupil, bat TO
bis whole class. The links that unite one


days teachings to another's, are such, that


the occasional absence of pupil may make


q wreck of all be might otherwise have lear


ned during the term. But the evil stops


not with one pupil, more frequently whole


class and the school are affected. The class


must necessarily experience an interruption
in their course whenever, a member is ab-
sent Those Interruptions often spoil. halfa
terms study by their frequency. ....


Gov. Boutwell,, in one of his School Re-
ports, aptly observes, that the child who
never enters the school house, is guiltless Of
any positive. special wrong to the school;
but the occasional presence, or the OCCASION
al absence of scholar, is an injury to him.
self and to all his associates. When pupil
misses a recitation, a wrong is committed
which can only be remedied by the perpe-
tratien of another wrong. In good school
each pupil has an amount of daily labor as
signed to him, equal to his powers, and
lost lesson must be made up by extraordina.


y physical and mental labor. This Of course
is an evil. In most cases, however, the neg
meet is overlooked, and the pupil is'retained
in the class, daily losing his interest in what
he does not understand, while the other
members are kept back by one whose neglect
has been a common injury.


In some towns this evil has been felt so
severely that the extreme penalty of expul-
sion has been resorted to, and pupils who
are absent certain number of times, unless
detained at home by sickness, or absent from
town, forfeit their seats in the public schools.
Nor can we see any injustice in this rule
The irregular attendent not only defeats the
object of the school, SO far as he is himself
but he infringes upon the rights
of others. lis therefore just and right that
he should be expelled, after.proper warning
and probation. But parents should net
compel school committees and teachers to
apply so harsh remedy. They can easily
cure the evil themselves. Let them strive
to create sentiment which shall lead the
pupils of the neighborhood and town to be
,anstant and punctual in attendance; let
hem strictly prohibit all unnecessary ab-
'ence; let them if necessary, control the
wishes of their children, or yield their own
in matter of so much person
ii, family and public importance; let them
exercise forbearance and charity towards
teachers and committees, and never with
draw child from school for any but the
most grave and imperative reasons; let par
ents thus fulfil their duties to their children
md to the school, and the evil under con-
,ideration will cease.