(2) _Absences._ Sometimes first grade pupils choose to be absent from school for a day and often for several days. When the teacher goes to find out the cause, she learns that the pupil is afraid of the teacher, does not like to study, or there is some similar reason, and he has begged to remain at home. The parents have consented to the request. It is then the teacher’s duty to assure the parents that she will do all she can to win the child to the school. Her visit often stops the truancy if the teacher shows that kindly and courteous disposition that all teachers should possess. Often when the parents tell a child that the teacher is kind and good it has a tendency to overcome his reluctance. There are very few first year pupils who will absent themselves from school without their parents’ consent. With respect to older pupils, however, as long as there are schools, so long there will be truancy. When the teacher has made his school and school work interesting and tried to be kind and courteous, he has done very much toward abolishment of the truant. There are many cases of truancy that teachers have succeeded in stopping, but an investigation of the school revealed the fact that the teacher was alive to his work; every pupil knew that absentees would be missed; further, that the teacher would ask for a reason for absence. They knew that every detail of the school was interesting and that they missed something when away from it. In other words, it was far more fun to be in school than out of it. If ever our readers feel that coercion is necessary to get regular attendance, don’t punish, but try this plan instead: talk to the class about some trip you want to take with your pupils, perhaps to a woods. Play upon their imagination as to what they would like to do on that trip, what you will take along, etc., and ask everybody to stand who is in favor of taking the trip. Then say, “All right, be seated. There is another thing to be said about this trip. Only those who work well will be permitted to go with us. We are going to have a great time and I hope everyone will get the chance to go, but only those who have been regular in attendance will receive an invitation.”