Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-12-27
ON THE CO.OPERAFI oN II PARENTS
AND TEACHERS.


for The SPIRIT 0F JEFFERSON
Irregalarits Of attendance is serious evil 10
nearly ali our . Free Pubic Schools" and can
be reEnedied only bya CO operation Of Parenls
with Teachers, In ny opinion this evil is more
alarming than is geneSaly supposed. u the pa
renssswilo are too oftsn governed by the caprice
Of their children could trac4tne ultimate influence
of this esd upon their habits and future welfare
there would be less importance given 10 the irivo-
Ions excuses and cunning reasons children often
devise 10 rid themselves Of school discipline
IrregnlarIty does than 70 defeat the object
for which the child attends school. The irreca-s
lar scholar lads 10 obtain , complete knowledge
/ Of The branches he studies By his absence he
I loses many illustrations and demonstrations Of
| principles in science from his teacher, and in-
| stead Of obtaining clear and comprehensive
view o. his studies, and mastering dic uities ana
mee,ino u.ineiples as lhey come up in proper con.
Z secntfNr ufutt ser xoninse tails In the
rear of his class;is disheaFtehed, ana eventnsivs
comes 10 the VICTORIOUS and fatal coucluSlon that
he can never rise above bis Difficulties, ard mus,
be content Is grope his way through life igno-
rant oglhe branches which his fellows have sue
cessfuI.y mastered. Thus a mind once active,
promising much for society, is disabled and rem.
dered almost passive and poweTless by the ne
glect OF the parent, Il is mot monentary evil
10 tire child lie feels il thr9ngh life; weakness Of
purpose, and want OF ability TO execute, defeat
every attempt he makes I'd surmount difficulties;
he lives and dies, and leaves the impress OF his
imbecisily upon every act pt bis life. have nor
doubt this il the history Of hundreds. Parents
arenot conscious of the hazird they venture
when they allow trivial causes 10 interrupt a
gradual and healthy cultivation Of mind. Fur
lhefmore, every pupil feels to some extent the
evil arising from irregular attendance OF any one
oF bis fellows, 1t interrupts the uniform advance
meat Of the classes. The teacher finds those
who have been absent from former Escitatons I'M
prepared to receive the instruction due 10 the
constant attcndants--he must bestow time and
labor upon them which belongs 10 others IL is
an enormous waste Of public money. The same
amount is expeIBded for teachers wages as would
be If every pupil attended punciualiy, and at the
same time less actual benefit acerues to the pune
tuai attendants well as 10 absenlees-- besides,
the fatal influence upon their habits. This ire
gularitg is often sourceIof complaint and dis
satisfaction in districts. Many parents who send
irreguarly, finding their children do no, IMPROVE
attribute il To the teacher, and be who has area-
dy suffered great incpnvclience from the irregu-
lariiy of his scholars, must now have his repua-
ton assalled, ssbrought before the public and
held res ponshle flor evils which parents have
fixed upon their own children, and which The
teacher has zeslousiy lab red 10 vain 10 avert =
Often have competent and useful teachers suifer-
ed much in their feelings and reputation from
this ungenerous treatment, though often perhaps
the result OF earelessness and ignorance. How
can teachers remedy this evil without the CO..
| operation of parents? Another evil, fFaught
with slmilar consequences aud equally difficult
tor the teacher TO prevent, without the aid ofthe
parents is tardinesS Again, a teachers influence
over his pupiisgis often destroyed by want of
concurrence among parents TO render his govern,
! ment efficient. SIT is lamen tabe To see how ready
many parents are to pass unnoticed and encour-
/ Nj n
have no doubt 4hat many convict when overta.
ken by the vengeance OF law has found that when
I Iris pirenls or guardians were Witnessing with
ind fference his Gpposlton TO the restraints of the
| teacher, that he was tken taking the lncipient
| steps TO nfamy. The same disposition that leads
/ to:revolt against government nsthe school-Foom
4 is like an infant \ Webster" and only needs
time, strength, and opportunity 10 reveal itsef in
/ begeting hostility to civil authority and spread.
4 ing The die influence Dc anarchy in society,"
1 THIS disposition should be regarded as a dark
| and fearful element in d republic and should be
Suppressed by the mutual efforts OF parents and
teachers. Parents are generally Zoo credulous in
| Listening to the complaints of their children
| they often dwell and comment upon the stories
/ Of their children as though they were as impor-
tant as the sa 6ient eonnkeis of old philosophers,
and echo and trumpet the exaggerated account
which hapless trsnsgressor may bear from the
school room, till finally The rumor assumes
magnitude at once awful in the car OF the most
candid If every parent had the manly indepen-
dence the moral courage the integrity OF Pur-
pose, that would prompt him to meet the teacher
when he considers him in the fault and frankly
converse with him in relation 10 the matter, it
would Danish multitude OF difficulties from our
school and crimes from the republic. ] submit
Ills 10 the candid consideration Of the Parents
AID Teachers ot Jefferson county, and with all
dae reverence ask them ;--if they have not lean
ed The truth Of this by experience and observa-
I tim? ROOT. Il
NJ Iiatpers Ferry, Dec. Is, 1880
/ ~ Free Pressis requested 10 copy.