Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1878 — Trustees, Report of the Rensselaer Free Schools, for the Term Ending December 21st, 1877. [ARTICLE]

Trustees, Report of the Rensselaer Free Schools, for the Term Ending December 21st, 1877.

Owing to the time and labor In putting in type the bar-docket and Jilinquent list, we are unavoidably delayed n the issue of this numqer oi the Sentinel.

At a caucus meeting of the democracy and independents, held at Rensselaer, Jasper county, Indiana, on Wednesday, January 2d, 1878. Captain Charles A. Edmunds was called to the Chair. The Chairuiafi stated the object of the meeting to be to select delegates, and alternate delegates to represent Jasper county In the democratic State convention, to be held at Indianapolis, on the 20th of February, 1878. On motion John G, Culp, of Barkley township, Henry A. Barkley, of Marlon township, O- B. Mclutire, of Carpenter township, and Jumes Yeoman, of Newton township, were elect ed as delegates to said couvettion, and John H, Pruitt, of Gillam Township, Robert Patton, of Marion township, Reuben R. Pettit, of Cai peuter township, and Madison Makeever, of Newton township, were elected as alternate delegates to said convention. On motion the secretary was instruoetd to notify the delegates and alternate delegates of their election to attend the State convention, It was deemed advisable by this meeting that a committee of all voters of Jasper county, of whatever political persuasion, either past or present, who are opposed to the ruinous management of the radical republican party, be called to organize a county central committee, and to transuct such other business as usually comes before such conventions; and accord iugly, On motion, Saturday, March 2d, 1878, was fixed upon as the day for holding said convention, the meeting to be held in the court-house at 1 o’clock P. M. of said day. On motion the secretary was instructed to furnish the editor of the Democratic Sentinel a copy of these proceedings for publication. Ou rnotiou the meeting adjourned

CHAS. A. EDMUNDS,

Cliairaia , Ira W. Yeoman, Secretary.

The school trustees in announcing the successful close of the Autumn term au.d the auspicious outlook tor the ensuing winter term, commencing January 7th, submit a few remarks upon the regulations which have not been properly understood and applied. SUPKKINTE N I) E N T. The teachers should often consult as per rule 3 and classify their work as per rule 4 in accordance with the course of stuffy. The statistical report required hv regulation 5 should be collateral from the records, required by rule 4 for teachers. This report should include the following items: 1. Number of pupils enrolled. 2. The average attendance. 3. The per cent on punctuality. 4. The per cent on conduct.. 5. The per cent on study. 6. The cases of absence excused by teachers and the excuses. 7. The cases of absence excused by superintendent and the excuses. 8. The cases of suspension res lured by trustees and reports, 9. The names of pupils expelled during the month. 10. The number of pupils strictly punctual. 11. The number of pupils who ob served good conduct. 12. The number of pupils who observed rules for study. 13. The namesof all pupils whose record ip 3. 14. The names of all pupils cliarg ed with marring school property, with the evidence to sustain such oharge. 15. The names of teachers who fail to observe either rule 2,3, 4or 7, and the particular fault. TEACHERS. The daily duty of each teacher should.be practical and well planned to include all the subjects named in the catalogue. Observe rule 4 closely. Place an index upon the margin of each page of the register from which an observer ‘can understand the figures and marks used. It would ensure neatness if paper were used in the schoolroom and posted weekly to the school register. Weekly, monthly, and term summaries are required to be made upon the register. All facts asked by th 9 superintendent ean be collate! el from a a register thus kept. Pupils, patrons and officers can thus be informed of your account with each pupil. The roll should bo called in the morning. All exouses should be numbered and retained until the end of the month, and then be surrendered to the superintendent, and by bim to the school trustees. PUPILS. The trustees desire and require rule 7 to be enforced. Excuses must be in writing and contain plain reasons for absence. Teachers must after roll-call suspend all pupils absent or tardy for the previous day who do not rise in the proper place in school and read a reasonable exouse igned by the proper patron, (and in case vuoh absence or tardiness arose from pther cause than sickness of seif

or in family) the superintendents or trnstees approval endorsed therein, and after the same is thus read hand it to the er. After such tardy pupil is thatt suspended the teacher is forbidden to recognize such pupil as a member of the school until so directed by board of trustees. The law will not antberise the the penalty of exclusion when the tardy or absent pnpils present an excuse from the patron reciting any of the following fasts: 1. The casual sickness of the pupil. 2. Sickness or death in pupil’s family. 3. An impediment of Are or flood. 4. An accident to the pupil necessarily precluding his attendance. In all such cast's the patron should write a i ot* to the teacher after this form: Dated 1878. To (Name./ Teacher: On yesterday Mary was sick and could not come to school Excuse her this once and obUge her mother. (Sign here.) Such a note would suffice for the causes above set forth if it state the true caus / of absence. If tardiness or absence result from the negbgence, malice, truaney or stubbornness of pupil or patron the decision of the teacher and school trustees excluding the pupil is judicial and final. in ease a pupil is negligent, or is directed to l/e absent by the parent, such tardiness or absence seversthe pupil’s connection with the school which can be restore d by application to thesui>erintemlent before school calls in the morning by a writing signed after this form: Dated 1878. Prof. G. W. Allen, Superintendent of Rensselaer Free School: On yesterday (Pupil’s name.) played truant and dirt not attend school. His acts were without my consent or knowledge, and were wrong He promises me to not repeat the offence, and I have so eiiastised him that I am quite sure he will give us no further trouble during the term. He and I greatly desire that he may he restored to his p.ace in school, and we both promise punctual attendance hereafter and we respectfully ask you to endorse this application to (Name of teacher.) his teacher, and you will oblige his father. (Sign here.) Excuses and applications to have pupils reinstated in school should he signed by the father when living in town. If the fattier is dead tlieu by the mother. Otherwise by the patron or guardian. In case tile super! iieudent refuses to restore a pupil ou account of insufficient excuse thematter is referred to tlie board of trustees, and further application maybe filed with the secretary of the board. Punctuality is the pearl of great price attracting to itself all scholarly virtues. There is great room for improvement in this regard and we earnestly hope that patrons will assist pupils to observe rule 7, which reads as follows: “Hckness is the only valid excuse for non-attendance and may be even the teacher by the parent in writing. All other excuses must be obtained from tlie superintendent by the parent” TRESPASS. We are pained to report that a few boys within school age have not observed the most trite rules of neatness in their treatment of school property. The indecent conduct of said pupils, who are known, was a disgrace to the reputed high standing and honor of their parents. All school boys ought to be taught that marring and destroying school property is a crime. The trustees can only say that the markedly bad actions of said boys can only be passed by without criminal prosecution in the hope that the future school life of said boys may be more clearly and less penal. It is a matter of justice to mo«t of the pupils who respect school property that vigorous measmes he adopted against offenders. Please use special efforts to have school children be extremely- careful to leave the floors, desks and seats as cleanly and perfect as they find them. PROMOTIONS. No promotions will be made until pupils pass a creditable examination upon tlie preceding subjects in the course of study. Exceptions may be made on account of age, and studious, punctual and orderly habits. Good behavior will be a positive element to insure promotion. The promotions at tlie close of this term will be veryfew. The primary drill is essential to proceed intelligently with the work of the higher departments. CONCLUSION. The pupils and patrons have nobly sustained our efforts thus far. Evening meetings have been avoided.. Home study is now and must continue to be the rule. The order has been good in most of the departments and the pupils have progressed quite satisfactorily. The new term promises still better results. The teachers will use more scientific methods, and you will, we trust, render more efficient aid to make the next term a complete success. . Mora ecai F. Ohilcote, Pres’t. Rim< n P. Thompson, Sec’y. Ralph Fekdig, Treasurer. January Ist, 1878. Mr. George Major has sold his farms in this township, comprising 552 acres of excellent land, all well improved and close to Remington, to Mr. Fred Hoover, of Good land. Mr. Major contemplates moving to Texas. He paid that state a visit last spring and came back highly pleased. We run no risk cf contradiction in saying that his departure from our midst with his estimable family, will be more regretted than that of any other citizen of this township, and we are still in hopes something may happen to make him change his present purpse.—Reming ton Times.