The schools were in session 192 days. The net enrollment was 4,212, average enrollment 3,560; average daily attendance 3,299; aggregate days' attendance 633,757; school population (5-18) 5,859. Compared with last year's record these figures show a decrease of 40 in the net enrollment, an increase of 29 in average enrollment, of 18 in average daily attendance, and of 15.395 in aggregate days' attendance. With the helpful aid and co-operation of our very efficient Attendance Officer and school principals, every available effort has been made to enforce the provisions of the Compulsory Education Act. We would also acknowledge the valuable aid given us by our City Recorder, Mr. Hyndman, in the execution of the attendance laws. The results were not entirely satisfactory-we would recommend more stringent measures the coming year. Truancy in very many cases is the first step towards crime. Hence it becomes our duty to the community and to the State to spare no effort to induce these wayward children to right living by keeping them in school and interesting them in their work, at least until they are old enough to be legally employed, and if possible for a longer time. From an article contained in the Second Annual Report of the N. Y. State Education Department, entitled, "Illiteracy in New York," we quote the following: "The school attendance laws and the child labor laws are harmonious and are to be kept so. The law is intended to operate against parents quite as much as against children, and properly so. Indifferent, avaricious, or dissolute parents are responsible for at least 90 per cent. of the unlawful absence of children from school. It is idle to punish children and let the parents, who are more responsible than they for the delinquency, go free. Delinquent children are to be gathered up, and delinquent parents who rob them of their right are to be punished until they will be glad to respond to the demands of the laws, if not to the natural obligations of parents." The forgoing statements clearly set forth the attitude of the Department as to the inforcement of the compulsory education law. Thirteen boys were sent to truant schools during the year, 10 to the Westchester Temporary Home and 3 to the New York Catho lic Protectory; with one exception these boys were committed by the consent of their parents. In fact, parents have generally shown a disposition to comply with the law when requested to do so, but their lack of ability to control their children has compelled the school authorities to resort to severe measures in some cases. It would seem to be a blessing rather than a punishment to the children who are removed from the degrading influences of home and neighborhood environment and placed in institutions where they are properly cared for. The following report of our attendant officer, Mr. C. B. Galatian, for the year, will show that we ought to be classed with the cities of the state which are at least "making some effort to enforce the law. Total number of visits made.... 1,265 Total number of cases investigated 1,072 Total number of cases re-investigated Children kept at home (temporary necessity) 193 152 Children kept at home (neglect) Children kept at home by sickness 73 347 Children kept at home by poverty Children transferred from one school to another.. Children withdrawn from school-left the city. 55 18 42 73 Children found to be truants and returned to school.. 227 5 School by parents through officer ... Children found to be truants and committed to Truant Children found to be non-attendants and placed in school.. Truant School by parents, through officer.. Sentenced to Truant School, sentence suspended... During the whole year there has been no general illness among the pupils to seriously interfere with their attendance or school duties, and the health of the teachers has been generally good. One hundred forty-five pupils were graduated from the grammar schools and fifty-seven from the Academy. The number of Academic graduates excelled that of any other year. The general work throughout the grades has been above the average. The drawing and manual training exhibit made at the end of the year showing the work of the different grades in these departments, was excellent and received much praise from the many visitors who inspected the work. We also received the first prize both in manual training and drawing at the Orange County Fair. The year has been a very busy one. There was plenty of work to do and willing hearts and ready hands performed their tasks faithfully and well. On the whole the results of the year's work have been encouraging and satisfactory. Every one connected with the school system has shown a friendly helpful spirit and a willingness to co-operate in everything promotive of the best interests of the schools. SOME CHANGES. At the beginning of the year bi-monthly written examinations in all subjects were substituted in all the grades for the monthly examinations previously used; and uniform examinations prepared by the Superintendent were given to eighth grade classes. After a year's trial the changes have proved satisfactory. It might be well to extend the uniform examinations to all the grades. The bi-monthly plan provides enough tests of the pupils progress. It affords a wider range for questions and more time for uninterrupted study. It also relieves the teachers in a measure from devoting time to writing questions and marking examination papers, which could be spent more profitably in instruction. Heretofore we have not taken Regents examinations. The Education Department have approved our four year courses of study and have granted certificates for admission to Normal Schools and other professional schools to such of our graduates as required them. Amendments to the general rules of the Regents made April 26, 1906, require that all approved high schools and Academies in the state in order to share in the apportionment of money for the Academic quota and for attendance of Academic students and for tuition of non-resident students shall be required to take the academic examinations prescribed by the Regents. They also make the Regents Credentials their only recognized standard for admission to the State Normal and training classes. In view of these requirements the committee on schools recommended that the Regents examinations be given to the students of the Academy in the last two years of the course and at such other times as are most convenient to the school. They also recommended that courses of study revised to more fully conform to the requirements of the New Syllabus of the Regents be adopted in place of the ones now in use at the Academy. Their recommendations were adopted by the Board. Our modified courses of study as adopted were approved by the Regents. They also favored our bi-monthly tests and other local examinations for promotion and graduation of our pupils. It is our wish both in our elementary and high school departments to conform as far as possible to the requirements of the New Syllabus. By this course we trust that a higher standard of work in our schools will be realized. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. The Board made the usual tour of inspection of the school property early in May to ascertain what repairs were needed. They found by examination that in addition to the usual repairs made necessary by the constant wear of some 4,000 children throughout the year, that the ceilings of eight class rooms in Washington Street School, eight rooms in Grand Street School, ten rooms and a hallway in South Street School, twenty-seven in all, were unsafe and needed early attention. During the summer vacation all needed. repairs were made in all the school buildings and metal ceilings were put in all the rooms mentioned. At the opening of school in September, all the work had been completed and the buildings and grounds without exception were in excellent condition. Special mention ought also to be made of our faithful and efficient janitors, principals and teachers for their care and protection of the school property. A conservative estimate of the value of school buildings, furniture and grounds, made by the President of the Board and the Building Committee, all experienced men in real estate values, is as follows: Although we have comfortable well equipped school buildings, the question of providing additional room for the children of the city, is pressing itself upon the attention of the Board. Our six schools have a total of 97 class rooms with seats for 3,971 pupils, an average of 40 to a room. Based on total net enrollment (4,212) there would be 44 pupils to a room, and on average enrollment (3,560) 37 pupils to a room. If an equal number could be placed in each class room the pupils would be fairly well accommodated, but still there would be too many to each teacher for the most effective work. But this plan of course is impracticable in graded schools. In some grades there are a few seats to spare, in others more pupils than seats. The crowded condition exists principally in the first grades and in the Academy. By the transfer of pupils from one school to another |