FULL SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1918, Page 7

FULL SCHOOLS

AND ABSENT CHILDREN.

'.'The attendance for the month has not been good, owing to the abnormal weather experienced," reported Mr. J. W. Butler, Attendance Officer to the Education Board, at its meeting this morning. "I am persuaded, however," ■he added, "that the weather gave an opportunity to the slackers to make this an excuse for absence from school. The weather was so shocking, however, that it wa3 difficult to discriminate between those cases that were perfectly legitimate and those *that were not. In many of the country districts the rivers were in flood for quite a- lengthy period, and in many schools it was quite impossible to maintain good average attendance." The officer further reported that during the month he had issued 84 notices and nine final warnings, as well as 64 typewritten letters to parents. In seven cases of old offenders Court proceedings were taken. "One case of absolute defiance of the requirements of the Act has given me some concern. A. lad of 12, who has only passed the 4th Standard, has not attended school for upwards of five months, and the lad is employedby his father to drive an express for hire. The parent has been before the Court on four occasions, and the last time a fine of £2 with costs was inflicted. The father evidently finds it more profitable to pay the fines and to exploit the boy's labour in the way he is doing. I am again proceeding against the parent." "The average roll," reports the officer, "shows an increase for the quarter over that of the March quarter of 399 and an increase in the average attendance of 161. This is an increase in the roll of 748, and in the average attendance an increase of 653, since the end of the quarter ending 31st December, 1917. This increase is chiefly in Wellington city and suburbs, and the transfers from all parts of tho Dominion. The city schools are at present very full, and I am experiencing some difficulty in placing new arrivals in a school adjacent to their homes." The average roll for the twelve months showed an increase of 825, and, the ayerage daily attendance an increase of 892.