Litchfield enquirer., 1860-09-06
For the Litchfeld Enquirer. COMMON SCHOOLS.-No. W.

COMMON SCHOOlS.-No. AF'
 MR. EDITOR We propose to throw out a few Hints on the Interest that Pa rents should feel in our Common Schools, and when we remember how far the pa rents influence goes with the child, and how not unfrequently his ipse dirit is ta- ken as law, we can hardly Over-estlmate the importance of the theme. In matters of education, especially, is the parent look ed up to as having much wisdom and ex- perience; and the boy, using fathers i'm clements, whether in trade or husbandry, soon learns to handle them as father does, and it is enough for the girl to know that she does as mother does.
 Thus it is in the parents power to make the school of great benefit to his children, by showing lively interest in the same, or by neglecting it, to deprive the scholar | of much good. There are several ways of showing this interest in the school, which will be of incalculable benefit to the child, and cost the parent but little time or trouble.
 lst. By visiting the school. How few
 parents ever look into the school room,
 but take 1t for granted that all is going on well! And yet visit from every parent
 once a year, would not only encourage the
 child, but teachers too and while the pa
 rents would have an opportunity Of Judg, they would he less likely to believe every
 report to the detriment of the school, and
 often-times have it in their power to cor
 rect any little irregularity, and thus make
 the school good one, instead of destroy
 ing it through want of correct information.
 2d. By providing suitable school-hous.
 es and necessary maps, apar atus, &c.: and
 as the State has so generously provided
 for School Libraries, it seems hardly pos
 sible that any District should fail to com. ply with the requirements and yet, from F the report to which we have had refer
 ence, we find that only four districts 1T
 this this town have Libraries, viz. the 2d 3d, 4th, and 5th. The same number have
 outline maps. The school-houses are al
 reported as in good condition, with thu exception of three, two of which, I sup
 pose, have no school, and the third is tt
 give place to new one in few weeks.
 Sd. By encouraging tho children a
 home. Instead of inquiring what and how
 the teacher does, (which questions, I hav'
 already shown, can best be answered by , personal inspection of the school,) exam inc child as to his progress. and help hin
 out of any little difficulty he may hav' found, and in the winter require him tt
 spend part of the long evenings in study
 at home, and thus exercise wise and jul
 dicious oversight of his studies, and sec ond the efforts of both pupil and teacher
 4th. By sending your children regularly and punctually. The returns show that
 723 scholars are entitled to the public money, while the highest number on regis
 ter is only 5l7, with an average attendance of 397. Thus, 200 pupils are never fount in the school-room, not more than one hal
 of which obtain any other schooling showing that many of our children los this greatest boon that the State confers- qood education free. If those poor pa 5 rents who excuse themselves from sending their children to school because they nee' their help at home, could only understan'
 the value of education, as expressed by al old Educator, that every days school to : child l2 years old, is worth $50, and 3 good common school education at l6, : worth more than 5000 in money, the il 6 regular attendance so much complained O f would soon cease, and that waste of none
 to which the report refers, would be easil T remedied.
 | In conclusion, we ask-1s not town a large and wealthy as this, able to suppol 8 at least one GRADED School? And doe t it not speak we'll for the enterprise an Il public spirit of the people, to see such s School in most of the towns of this State f That Litch6eld could support one, IS eVl V dent when we state that the expenditure o for the Common Schools, are, accordln Il to the report, nearly $3,O00, or more tha d s4 .O) for every child drawing the publl a nonev - The fact that the town need n sucb 2 School, is apparent from it's tryin ,s to support such one; and however goo ~ it may be, would be better if 1t was inco 7r norated into the school system of u es town. Establish an Academic departmel IS in the School of the First District, ar ct while you compel none to patronize ,e you put it in the power of those wishil le good school at home, to avail themselv Q. of one with little extra expense. You { h so establish it on permanent basis, al IA lay the foundation for such school as W 10 meet the wants of all, and when once n operation, it's success and popularity a h certain, or this town is an exception to y found in none that have tried the expe @, ment.
 s, Thus have we finished our proposed U m dertaking and if we shall provoke a Q. to good works, or stir up those that ha done well, to do still better, we shall 1t ei it a sufficient reward for our well-meant at vice, and thankful to you, MT. Editor, er giving us hearing, we remain as ever, ,n. Yours, &c. A. D. ed -
 - Men use pitch to keep water or b;s ,a ,,;tcher to keep it in.