The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-06-13

day Tommy must stay at home and help
papa plant corn; and thus. probably, a
week passes In the mean time the class
has been progressing, and when Tommy
returns to school he finds himself away
behind. Well, what must be done? Tom
my is too big to go back into the slittle
class" and his papa wants him to hurry
through his book. He must go on with
his class; but he has lost the connection
of his study, and half the time does not
knew what he is at. He is dead weight
upon the class. He cannot keep along;
he hinders the progress of the other pu-
pills; he becomes discouraged; they be-
come disguised, and the teacher becomes
disheartened. <
Things move along, and Tommy gains
upon his class. But about the time they
are getting Strengthened up again. show
comes along, and Tommy must see the
monkeys; so he is again absent. The
next day he comes, bringing piece of
paper, with Detained at home by his
fathern written upon it, which serves as
IAN excuse When he is called upon to re-
cite, to the first question be promptly am.
swers -" Wasn't here yesterday; didn't
know where the lesson was" And so the
same is enacted over day after day, and
the class makes but little advancement.
And this is all owing to the inconstant
attendance of the students. And when
the teacher considers the indifference and
the want of interest in parents and pupils,
no wonder that he should exclaim, g Well,
well, it's no use to try any more. I"
also wondered if. the parents of Bill
Jim, &c., ever visited the school which
they attend. IF they did, they are not
much like people used to be when fol-
lowed teaching. In my younger days I
taught school five or six years, and with
the exception of the directors. once or
twice, never recollect Of being visited
but twice. Once was by man, who came
in to ascertain whose boy stoned his dog.
The other was by a woman who threatened
of broomsticking me for OBTAINING her
dear little Mosy after school was out.
The directors visited me once to inform
me that they wished me to prevent those
one hundred unruly boys from making a
noise during intermission, as it was an
moving to the neighbors; and second
time to tell me that I must not let the
4 boys play in town. Is i
But Isupposed, Gas the cause of educa
tion has made considerable progress since
that time, that parents were in the habit
Of visiting the schools more than they
were them But no. On inquiring Of oul
friend the teacher, I find that is still thu
same. He tells me that during the siz
months that he has been teaching, he has
been visited once by the directors, but b,
no other persons. Here. then. thought I
is another reason why Bill, Jim, &C., learr
no faster.
It is general rule, established by the ex
perience of teachers, that where parent.
become interested in the school, the chill
dren will also be interested, and rice versa
4 And there is no better evidence that o pa
rent is interested, than his being in tn
habit Of visiting. the school; and no bette
evidence Of the contrary, than his passing
t by the school house, probably. two or thre
| times a day, without calling to ascertain
how his children are progressing. Blu
, some one may say, 80, I haven't time t
/ attend to such things" Well, now, sup
81 pose you had two or three young colt
/ over here at your neighbor's. pasture
; would you not find time to call over an
. Isee if he was taking good care Of them
8 Certainly you would. But you say, &C
. the teachers business is to take care {
!. them, and if he don't do it, it's not m
t fault" How do you know what kind {
' a man he is? In nine cases ont of te
t you don't know the man at all, and prob
& Iably wouldn't trust him with q horse, fo
i fear he would run off; yet you win intrui
Il the training Of your child to his. car,
without the least scruple, and never ono
/ visit him to see what he is doing. 70
riwait until the close Of the school, an
n then, if your child has not made ths
e progress which you think he should hay
d done, you are no ways slow in heapin
& your censure upon the poor teacher; who
d in reality you should bear, at least, ha
,fl the blame. sal
# No one, but the teacher, knows the di
: 6culties that he has to contend with. H
lhas SO many different natures to study, $
n many unruly children to govern, SO man
o dull minds to awaken into activity, /
e many different persons to please or.sdi
Il please, that his life is one continued roun
I Of toll and hardship. He becomes we,
,tlried and perplexed. his energy broke
'el down. HIS patience wearied, and his min
almost .tnrned upside down. And.
(, There is any personwho needs the syn
q pathy and the desperation of the peopl
u lit is the school teacher. But how vide
; diferent.is the case. You send your chi
Z Ito school, and there your care for hi
dl stops. Yon permit him TO remain fro
IS school one or two DAYS each week. Ye
is never inquire of him how he is progress
le ling in his studies; you never encourat
Isl him to strive to learn; and then at Il
efclose of the term you are ready to 81
THAT Mr. So ------- is not fit for a scho
p