SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8036, 24 January 1906, Page 2

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

TIU'AXT OFFICER'S I{EFOHT, In the course of a brief summary of the year's operations, the Truant Otlicer 'of the Taranaki Education Boird states that more summonses wore issued during 1!)U5 for irregular attendance than during (he previous year—a cirruinslaurc that is claimed by him to have brought (he average aiiendance a little higher than in 11)111, The Inspector states: " There is one matter to which I would like particularly to draw attention, viz., on a number of occasions when I have issued a summons against parents, Ibev will go the Doctor and get a certificate Io the effect that the child has been ill at some time or (lie other, but do not get an exemption from the teacher or chairman of the School Committee, on the form prescribed by Section 112, Sub-section C of the Education Act. 1 have repeatedly protested |» ibe Bench about this practice, hut lam told by the Bench that I bey would not convict in the face of the Doctor's certilieate, and 1 am therefore compelled to withdraw cases or have them dismissed." The report goes on to suggest that a circular bo sent to the Doctors drawing their iiitention to this practice of giving certificates after summonses , have been issued, " thereby encouraging parents to be careless in the education of their children."

Turing the year there were two contested eases, one at New Plymouth and Stratford respectively, in each of which a conviction was recorded.

The Board is requested to notify private and other schools, other than public schools, to conform with the Act regarding the issue of certificates o| exemption, in order that they may be brought more directly under the Truant Inspectors' control. During the year visits were paid to the Catholic schools. The Xew Plymouth school has a fairly regular attendance, but Stratford and Ominnkc, are not at all satisfactory, due no doubt, the Inspector says, to the dislance some of the children have to travel. One hundred and eleven notices for uon-at tendance were issued during the year; 53 summonses were issued and 2(1 convictions recorded; 13 eases lapsed and U were withdrawn.