Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-06-24
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By Request.
sympathy, between Teachers a nd
Parents essential to the highest
good of the Pupils at School.

respect to him, of merely one thing, but of
several things, all of which are of vital
Importance. His highest good is positiv-
ely secured when there is begotten or
reused up in him a genuine love of study
which, under judicious direction, shall
impel him onward in the discipline of his
mind and the acquisition of the elements
of useful knowledge, however numerous
and severe may be the difficulties he must
encounter, and there is implanted in his
soul due sense of his dependence and
moral obligations, which shall render him
orderly and obedient, and give birth to
those noble desires without which no one
can be useful citizen, and demean him.
self as he should, in his appropriate place,
on the stage of life. Teachers and pa
rents have great and laborious work to
do, and, in many particulars they must
labor conformity to effect it, to achieve
the truly highest good of the pupils
at school. A passage from the Hon.
Mr.. Webster's remarks to the ladies
of Richmond, Virginia, October 5,
1s4O,' giving it an application suited to
the purpose of this short article, may
here be introduced with interest IF we
draw within the circle of our contempla-
ton the parents and teachers of civil
lized nation, what do we see? We behold
so many artifceIs working, not on frail
and perishable matter, but on the i'm
mortal mind, moulding and fashioning
beings who are to exist forever. We ap-
plaud the artist whose skill and genius
present the mimic man upon the canvas
we admire and celebrate the sculptor who
works out that same image in enduring
marble; but how insignificant are these
achievements, though the highest and
fairest in all the departments of art, in
comparison with the great vocation of
human parents and teachers! 'They
work not upon the canvas that shall fail,
or the marble that shall crumble into dust
but upon mind, upon spirit, which is to
last forever, and which is to bear, for
good or evil, throughout its duration, the
impress of the parents and teachers
plastic hand' For the highest good of
the pupil at school, it appears to be i'm
portant, as a means coducive to the end,
that the parents and teacher should, to
an extent, be acquainted with each other.
If they are, to an extent, acquainted with
each other, the parents may cherish a
more intelligent confidence in the teacher,
while the teacher may learn the temper
of the parents, their interest for the well
fare of the pupil, their government over
him at home, and many things in respect
to the scholar which, as the child's teach
er, he ought to know. The obligation to
effect necessary acquaintance between
the parents and the teacher, as the two
parties so greatly responsible for the ed
ucation of the pupil, is perfectly mutual.
Let the teacher truly seek to become ac-
quainted with the parents of his pupils,
and let the parents endeavor to become
acquainted with the teacher of their chill
dren. Perhaps the first step to be taken
in the way of the cultivation of such an
acquaintance, should be taken by the pa
rents. The child who knows that there
is a pleasant acquaintance between his
parents and teacher, feels that he is the
object of an interest of no ordinary cha
acter.
There should be a right understanding
and sympathy between the parents and
the teacher, in reference to the studies of
the pupil. Does the scholor love to study!
Is he thorough in his studies? Is he ac-
quiring good habits of study? Is he max
ing, not superficial, but real progress
in his studies! These are important ques-
tions. These are questions which will be
often asked by parents who are alive, as
they should be, to secure the highest good
of their child at school. If they would
have an affirmative answer to these ques-
tons, they must discharge the duties
which in the matter, by an appointment
higher than their own, devolve upon them
If the teacher is assured that the parents
of his pupils are faithful in in respect to
the points which have be9n alluded to, as
touching their children, he must be en-
in his work, he must feel that
his labors are appreciated, and that an
influence is brought to bear upon him,
to make him better teacher. If the
child is assured, that, while his teacher is
particular in respect to his studies, to
make him love to study, thorough
scholar, possessed of good habits of study,
and to advance, by reasonable progress
in the acquisition of knowledge, his pa
rents also arc particular in respect to his
studies; on the one hand, he must be en- s
,ouraged and stimulated to strive after
attainments, and, on the other,
by an appliance, with which
or effectiveness, the frown, the sharp
word, and the rod, can bear no compari- s
son, to put forth his excrtions lest he
should occupy a low and ignoble rank "a
nong his fellows, and in the estimation of /
society. In reference to the end to be S
,ccomn1jshed ar the means to be used to