SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2137, 8 June 1920, Page 3

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

At last night's meeting of the Sehool Committee the head teacher reported that the present epidemics in the town and dislriel began to take effect upon the at tendance during the week ending March 101 b, during which the average suddenly showed a drop of 21 mi the previous 'week's figures —front 399.4 ii> 31 1,8. The attendances have week hy week shown a falling oil, the earlier weeks’ records being a heeled by whooping cough, hill gradual!;./ measles, mumps, and influenza obtained a hold, with tne re.-mll that the work of all classes, hut more especially Primer classes, Stds. 1. and 11., and V. and VP. has been very' seriously retarded. For the best 'part of the time since the Christ - mas holidays the Primer classes attendance has not averaged much mure Ilian 50 per eenl. for this quarter to dote, from April Ist to dune 4lh, the average has been only 295 out of an average roll of 388 only 79 per cent., or nearly 20 per cent, less than our normal attendance. The average for the quarter is 99 below our minimum grade number of 391. A. tall not oul\ affects our stalling, but also the, capitation income of the Committee. Taking advantage of (he new regulatioijts gazetted last year, 1 made application for the first quailei > average to be-excluded, as .10 per cent, or more had been affected by an epidemic. The application wa> acconrpanied by a cerlilicate iiom the District Health Officer to that effect. I have been advised by the Board (hat the Fdueatiou Department has agreed to (he exclusion oi the quarter’s attendance. It is certain that. a similar application will bo made for the quarter ending dime 30th. The school was closed by authority of the Education Board from May 18th to 241 h. when we opened with 157 present, and from 24th May to May 31st, when we re-open-ed with fewer than when we hrst closed.