Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 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.

The school trustees in announcing the successful close of the Autumn term and the auspicious outlook for the ensuing winter term, commencing January 7tli, 1878, submit a few remarks upon the regulations which have not been properly understood and applied.

SUPERINTENDENT. The teachers should often consult as per rule 3 and classity their work as per rule 4 in accordance with the course of study. The statistical report required by 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 aud the excuses. 7. The cases of abseuce excused by superintendent and the excuses. 8. The cases of suspension restored by trustees and reports. 9. The names of pupils expelled during the month. 10. The numbeT of pupils strictly punctual. 11. The number of pupils who observed good conduct. 12. The number of pupils who observed rules for study. —. v., 13. The namesof all pupils whose recorJTs3~ 14. The namesofali pupils charged with marring school property, with the evidence to sustain such charge. 15. The names of teachers who fail to observe either rule 2,3, 4or •> me particular i&tiiu TKACIIBU3. 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 the super-

inteudent can be oollutercl from a a register thus kept. Pupils, patrons ami officers can thus be informed of your account with each pupil. The roll should be culled in the morning. All excuaes should be numbered and retained until the end of tho month, and then be surrendered to the superintendent, and by him to the school trustees. FUPIL3. 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-cull suspend -ail—ptK. pils absent or tardy for tho previous day who do not rise in the proper idace in school ami iend a reasonable excuse signed by the proper patron, (and in case such absence or tardiness arose from other cause than sickness -of self or in family) the superintendents or trustees approval endorsed therein, and after the same is thus read hand it to the teacher.

Alter such tardy pupil is thus .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 authorize the the penalty of exclusion wjien the tardy or absent pupils present an excuse from the patron reciting any of the following facts; 1. The casual sickness of the pupil. 2. Sickuess or death in pupil’s family. 3. An impediment of fire or flood. 4 An accident to. the pupil necessarily precluding his attendance. ■<* In all such cases the patron should write a note to the teacher after this form: Dated 1878. To (Nflme.; Teacher: On yesterday Mary was sick and could not come to school. Excuse her this onee ami oblige lier mother. (Sign here.) Buch a note would suffice for the causes above set forth if it stale the true cause of absence. If tardiness or abaeuee result from the negligence, malice, truancy or stubbornness of pupil or pat Ton the decision of the teacher and school trustees excluding the pupil Is judicial and filial. In-easea pupil is negffgent,er ia directed to be alisent by tire parent, such tardiness or absence seversthe pupil’s connection with the school Which can be restored by application to the superintendent before school calls in the morning by a writing signed after tliis form: Dated 1878. Prof. 0. W. Allen, Superintendent of Bensaelaer Free School; Oil yesterday (Pupil’s name.) played truant and did not attend school. Hia acts were without my consent op'knowledge, and were wrong. He promises me to not repeat the offence, and I have so chastised him that 1 am quite sure he will give us no further trouble during the term. He and I greatly desire that lie may be restored to his place in school, and we both promise punctual attendance hereafter and we res(>ectful)y 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 be signed by the father when living in town. If the father is dead then by the mother. Otherwise by. the patron or guardian. ■'

In case the superintendent refuses to restore n puplf ou account of insufficient excuse theinatter is referred to the board, of trustees, and further application maybe tiled with the secretary of the board. Punctuality is the pear! of great price attracting to itself nil 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 folio vrs: “tickness is the only valid excuse for non-attendance and may be given the teacher by the parent in writing. Alt other excuses must-be. obtained, from the ssttwerhiteudeut 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 tauglit that marring und destroying school property is a crime. The trustees can only say that the markedly bad actions of said hoys 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 mutter of justice to most of the pupils who respect school property that vigorous be 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 then!., PROMOTIONS. No promotions will be made uiftil pupils pass a creditable examination upon the preceding subjects in the course of study. Exceptions may be mMe and sTOtltOllg. punctual and orderly habits. Good Behavior will be aposltive element to iusure promotion- The promotions at the close of this term will be very few. The primary drill is essential to proceed intelligently with the work of the higher departments. ' Vi. CONCLUSION. The pupils and patrons have nobly sustained our . efforts thus far. Evening meetings have been Home study is now and roust continue to be the rule. The order has beeu 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. MoRRECAt F, ChiXcote, Pres’t. Simon P. Thompson, Sec'y. Jlalpii FENDXO. Treasurer. January Ist, 1878.