Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-11-18
Neglect Of Parents.

deem gross neglect III the uuty tney owe
their children and their schools; and so
important a matter is it, that we cannot
forbear urging it again upon their con-
sideration. We refer to the duty of Wis
iting
In the method of managing many of
the everyday affairs of life, we have
doubtless improved much upon those
who have gone before US. We have
made Improvements in the implements of
husbandry, and modes of cultivation in
he model and structure of ships; in mat
chinery and manufacturing; in the facili-
ties for travelling and transportation by
means of steam power both by sea and
land; in scientific discoveries that have
been successfully applied to the transmits
sion of intelligence; and in thousand
arts that beautify and adorn our social
and domestic system: we are, as a people,
more intelligent, as well as more mercan-
tile and wealthy, and we had almost said
less virtuous, than they; we push ahead
faster in the pursuit of mammon; eat fas-
ter, drink faster, live faster and die faster:
but after all there are not few points, in
which we compare to no little disadyan-
tage; and one of these is embraced in the
subject to which we have above referred.
1t is admitted we have made great advan-
ces in many things that are essential to
the progress and improvement of the Pub
lie schools: we are constructing better
houses; have books better adapted to
the progressive development of the intel
iect; have teachers of higher qualifca-
tions and superior methods of instruction;
and of consequence, it is reasonable to ex-
pect improvements corresponding with
such increased facilities But is it so as
a whole As the facilities for public in
struction have increased and improved,
has not that vigilant oversight and care
which parents formerly exercised over the
school been relaxing in the same ratio?-
Has there not been growing disposition
the last fifteen or twenty years to entrust
their management too exclusively to
schools officers and teachers without Civ
ing themselves the trouble to exercise that
supervision over them which they ought?
We believe so. The tendency has been,
and still is, to rely too much on the agen-
cy of others. The parent after providing
the means, is too prone to leave school
officers and teachers to the prosecution of
their duties without further concern; and
in this consists the neglect of which we
complain. They both need to be looked
after, not that they are negligent in their
duties, but that their labors my be rem
dered more effective, and more complete
by the cooperation and personal inspec-
ton of those whseo offspring are instrusted
to their instruction and management. Ev-
cry experienced teacher knows full well
the influence that the occasional visits of
parents have in giving effect to his labors,
and the stimulus which such attentions
impart to the efforts of the scholar
Much of the deficiency growing out of
lily qualified teachers, and imperfect text
books, thirty years ago, was made up BY
the good old custom Of parental visitation;
and much of the adyantge, we have gain
ed in these respects is now counterbalanc-
ed by the discontinuance of that custom:
so that what we have gained in one respect,
we have in some measure lost in another,
and if our schools at the present day are
not as far in advance of those of any
former period as our increased ia ABILITIES
for public instruction would authorize US
to expect, the fault must not be charged
to any organic defect in our system, but
to the source where it rightfully belongs:
TO tie neglect Of parental UiSitatiOn If
there is any one thing that is operating
more than all others together to retard
the progress of schools, it is this almost
universal neglect on the part of parents;
, and, if under the present order of things,
the good old custom to which we refer
could be revived, we feel very sure the
complaint we sometimes hear that the
, schools are no better nOao than they used to
be, would soon cease to CRATE upon our
cars.
Had we our choice, and had we the
power to do so, we would much rather see
the old custom revived and become every
where prevalent, than fifty per cent. ad.