The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-12-17

ms child to acquire his education at school
is 1t wise for him to send him day or
week occasionally, and to detain him OF
every slight pretence? In this way, hi
child will take but little interest in the
school and make small progress in his stud
les. His mind will be continually turned
from his books, he will lose his connexior
with his class, fall behind his schoolmates
become discouraged and Indifferent. and il
would be wonder if he should not grow
up blockhead. But the child, who would
be really benefited by school, must attend
p0nctually. He should not miss dav il
it can be avoided. And this is but small
part of the advantages TO be derived from a
school. The child should be taught nj
home. Or if his parents cannot teach him.
they can take care, that he studies the les
sons assigned by his instructor. Long win
ter evenings would enable an industrious
youth to make great proficiency in study.
even II he had no other opportunity. But if
a child has no disposition to study ont of
school, it may be set down as a general
rule, that he is idle and negligent an school.
! And it depends much on the habits the
| child has been led TO form, whether his
books shall give him more pleasure than
his toys, and his youthful days be spent in
the cultivation of his mind or in vain and
trlfllng amusements.
However great may be the advantages of
| our schools, and however salutary their in
fuence, the education of child depends in
great measure, had almost said princi
pally, upon his parents. If they are inter
/ ested in tiff they labor for his improve
ment-are punctual in sending him to
school, and endeavor to stimulate him TO
exertion, there is little doubt, that their
efforts will be crowned with corresponding
success. But on the other hand, if the par
ents are careless and Indifferent it would
not be at all surprising if the progress of
their children should be comparatively hum
BILE. | make these remarks, that parents
may see the responsibility that rests on
them with regard to the education of their
offspring, They are too apt to look to their
instructors to do that, which is peculiarly
their province, and they expect them to
perform wonders-to do any thing short of
miracle-and in fact they do not stop
here, for they are often ready to denounce
an instructor as a non c0mpOS, if he does
not in the brief space of three month
school, make their children profcients in
science, though they should not attend half
the time.
The same may be said with regard to the
conduct of children in school. if they are
under good government at home. and if
their parents are really friendly to good
order in school, they will make little diff
Guilty for their teachers. But children. who
are badly managed at home, VIII neCu the
rod of correction in school. They and their
parents are the greatest nuisances in the
thorny path of an instructor. They are
ever ready to make disturbance, and like
the incendiary, who gives the first alarm at
the fire his own hands have kindled, they
are the first to proclaim it. Would parents
do their duty, they would not on y free
their school instructor of heavy burthen,
but would also relieve themselves from
great anxiety, and have the pleasure of
seeing their children growing up in the path
Of knowledge and virtue. S.