Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-06-15

able elects, DIT especially the child.
Now something can be done to remove
this serious and threatening evil, and the
first step to the reformation is, to believe
that it is practicable; and the second is,
for the first party that perceives the diff
liculty to set about the business without
waiting for the other.
That the blame in this thing may no
longer lie at our door, so far as our fee
bic influence may extend, we have writ.
ten as above. And that we may make
one essay farther, we shall venture to adj
dress few words of advice successfully
to the principal parties concerned.
TO PARENTS.
You have placed your child at school,
and you expect faithful discharge of
duty from the teacher. That teacher
needs your counsel, your aid your hear
ty and viglant concurrence with the
measures he may adopt for the education
Of your child. lie needs to be acqualnt-
ed with YOU; with your expectations, your
plans, your discipline at home. He
needs to be informed respecting youl
child; his disposition and habits, his pre-
vious studies and attalnments, his present
employment and associations while away
from his observation. He needs this,
that he may cooperate with you, * you
with him, and that neither may counter
act and destroy what the other aims to-
accomplish. lie needs your counsel and
aid; and while you withhold it, you dis
hearten and hinder him in his work. But
the greatest injury falls upon the child,
your own child. You deprive him of
half the benefit of his school, and lose
half your money. In your own depart
ment too your child suffers loss, for ifyon
are disposed to fill up that department
with its daily duties, you ca'nsot do 1t so.
eiicctually while you keep yourself a
stranger to the management OF the other
which is so intimately connected.
Now it belongs to you to make the first
advances here. la common public
schools, the teacher, male or female, is.
often Il stranger in the ne ghbohood per-
haps young and unacqualnted with soci-
ETY.. If he or she is acquainted with the
parent, still the customs of the place are
to be broken through before this object
can be attained. 1t becomes you, there
fore, to take the teacher by the hand, and
proilcr your friendly aid Visit his.
school not with the authority Of a censor,
but with the interest and sympathy Of Il
parent; and do it often, that you may wit.
ness its progress from time to time, and
become well acquainted with the plans
and management of the instructor, and
the pecuiarities that may be discovered
in him or his school. Invite him to your
house, and let him see you and your chill
dren at home. Invite him or her, not
merely to "takc tea" and converse on
the weather, and the news of the days.
but to enter with lie and spirit on the
great matter that concerns you both, and
your beloved children also. Elicit his
views, and communicate your own
Remark freely on the exccllencies or de-
tccts Of his principles and his adminsra
ton, and invite the same freedom on his
part towards yourself. This meeting of
the teacher and both the parents, should
be strictly Lyceun,, where individual
responsibility is felt, and mutual improve
ment is the blcct in view. Do this, and
If your teacher is not Ounce, both he &
you will receive and communicate some
thing that will show itself the next day,
both in your house and the school room
also. We need not 60 into particulars,
or prescribe subjects for discussion in this
new l.yceum. The occasion,t the circum-
stances, the habits and views of the asso-
clatcs will suggest the most important for
the time being. We will adduce but one
instance. 1t is practice in many
schools to keep record of rcctations,
delinqucncies, &c. by which the conduct
and progress of a pupil may at any time
be known. 1t is the practice of some
teachers to send a weekly bill OF this kind
by each pupil to his parents, for their in
specton. Now this may be made highly
beneficial to the child and all concerned
in the care ofhim; but is rendered worse
than useless by the ignorance or inattcn-
tion of parents. IfMey make a serious
matter Of it, the child will soon be relnc-
tant to carry home bad bill fthey
treat it with Indifference or neglect, and
do not cooperate with the instructor, all
the effect of the measure is lost; and the
instructor has the modification to see,
that its influence on the child is positive
ly bad. The parties should understand
and aid each other in the thing; if they
do, 1t may become powerful yet CRATE
iul stimulus to the child, in regard both
to his studies and his behavior. So in
nuniscrless ways, beyond what any one
has yet imagined, the concert of plans &
efforts between parent and instructor will
be salutary.