Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-12-24
ON THE Co-oPRRATIoN- Of PARE
AND TEACHERS
ZOE - srIR1r or IErEEnsos.


eIrregularity Of attendance IL a serious eyil 70
ne,rIy All oar Ffce Pubic Schools" snd can
he reunedIed only by = co operation OF Parents
with Teaehefs. In my opinion this evil is more
alarming than Is generally supposed. thePar
rents who are too often governed 1y the eaPrtee
of their children could traeethe ultimate lnnsenee
of This evil upon their habits and future weiiaIes
there would be less Importance given % the frros
Ious excuses and cunning reasons chhdren often
devise to.Fid themselves OF school disctpiines-
IFreenlaFity does more than 20 defeat the 1pjeft
for which the child attends school. 1ne 1ftegn-
lar scholar fails TO obtain complete knowledge
NJ the branches he studies. BY his Gbeence he
loses many illustrations ard demonsFatio1s o.
nr;ncinles in sejsnee from his teacher and lr-
stead Of obtaining clear and comprehensive
viev o. his stadiess and mastering Gun nites eno
meeting principles as they come up m proper con-
secutive ORDER he becomes confused, tzlis N tne
rear of his class is disheartened, and eventqHlly
comes to the ingloriOus and fatal conclusion that
he can never rise above his dtl1cutiess ana must
be content 10 grope hisyw through LIE lgno-
rant OF the branches which his fellows have sue
eessfuIIy mastered. Thus mind once aetises
promising much for society, Is disabled and ren-
deTed almost passive and poweTlesB by the ne.
elect of the parent. u Is not q fnomentasy evil
10 the child he feels II through life weakness Of
purpose, and want of ability 70 executes defeat
eyefy attempt he mslres TO suTmount dlfhcuitiess
he lives and dies, and leaves the impTess of hls
imbecility upon every act Of his life. have no
doubt this IS the history OF hundreds. feTents
are not conscious Of the hazard they venture
| WHEN they allow trivial canses 70 fnteffnpt .
| gradual and healthy cultivation Of mind
! fhermore, every pupil feels 10 some e
| evil arising from irregular attendance
/ of his fellows. Il interrupts the nniiorms
ment of the classes. The teacher hnf
who have been absent from torrner fecItAtl
| prepared 20 receive the Instruction du
| constant attendants-he must bestow
/ labor upon them which belongs 70 oths
an enormous waste OF public money
I amount is expended for teacher g wal ges a
be If every pupil attended Punetuailys
same time less actual benefit seernes q
tuaI attendants as well as 10 absenff
the fatal influence upon their habit
/ pulafity is often source Of cornpiai1
Satisfaction in districts. Many PARENTS
lirregulariy, finding their chil1ren do not impis
attribute Il 10 the feaceFi and he who has zlEeas
dy suffered great Inconvenience from the irfegu-
Iarity Of his scholars, must now have bis repuia.
tion assaiIed Is brought before the public and
held responsible for evils which parents have
fixed upon their own children, and which the
Teacher has zealously lab0sed in vain 10 avert
Often have competent and useful teachers suffer.
ed much in their feelings and reputation from
1 this unpenerous treatment, though pftep perhaps
the result or carelessness and Ignorance How
can teachers remedy this evil without the co.
operation Of parents Another eg.l, trspEhi
with similar conse1uences and equally oIhacnl.
for The Teacher 10 prevent without the aid Of the
parents, is tar9iress. "A gain, teachers induence
over his pupils is often destroyed By want oi
coacurrence among parents 10 render his govern
ment efficient. Il is lainentzbe 70 see how ready
T many parents 10 pass unnoticed and enrouF.
ape resistance TO wholesome gosernment-
have no doubt that many convict when orerla-
ken BY the yenge eance os law has found that when
his parents or guardians we're witnessing with
Indifference lis Opposition 70 the restraints Of tbs
teacher. that he was then taking the incipieni
steps TO infamy. The sene disposition thai leads
20 revolt azainst government in the scbool-foons
is ike al infant Webster and only needs
time, Strength, and opportunity 70 reveal itself IL
begetting hostility 10 civil <uihofIty and spread
ing the dire influence Of snarchy IN society,"
+ Tbs disposition should be regarded rs a dark
and fearful element IN republic and should be
suppressed BY the mutual elforts Of parents and
teachers. Parents are generaiiy too credulons IN
listening to The complaints OF their children
they often dwell and comment upon the stories
4 Of thsir Children As though they were 20 impor.
tanf Is the sapient counssls OF old phlosopheFs
and echo and trumpet the exaggerated account
which a hapiess trans sgressor may bear from he
school room, till finally the rumcr assumes a
magnitude at once awful IN tie ear OF The mosl
candid. II every parent hzc the manly indepen-
dsnce. the moral corr1ge, lhe Integrity Of pur-
pose, that would prompt hin 10 meet tbe teacher
when he CONSIDERS hin IN the fault and irankly
converse with hin in felztinn TO The matter. u
would Danish a multitude OF difficulties from our
school and crimes from the republic submit
this to the candid consideration Of the Parents
and Teachers OF Jefferson county, and with all
due reverence ask them III they hare not lean
ed the truth of this by exPersenee and ooseEva-
ton kooF-
Harpers- Ferry, Dec. 10. 1850.
u Free Press IS rs4s<sis5 70 copy.
AZ fau,t Ike to patronise this iiae.''zzis cui-