Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-21
educational Department.
Visiting Schools by Parents.

all. EFtI1 DdEtUJ COHCGdcS tudI IL NOuIu Gu
courage his oWn children, strengthen the au-
thorty of the teacher, assist him in control
ing unruly pupils, if he have such, and greatly
benefit the whole school still every parent
stays away from the school, from one years
end toanother
All parents are interested in the education
of their children, and they feel anxious to
have them make, the greatest possible pro-
gress. Yet they seldom go near the house in
which they are to receive their education.-
While they give strict attention to their do
mestic animals, and watch carefully the indi-
viduaIs having charge of them, they pay but
little attention to their own offspring, SO far
as their education is concerned, and seldom if
ever 90 10 the school house to see what the per-
son having charge Of them is doing with them.
They would Immediately dismiss an unfath-
full man from their employ in the shop, or
store, or farm, but the teacher may wholly
neglect his duty to the children, and no par
ent will know it unless his children enter COM
plant. The teacher may teach morality, or
imuoraIity he may instruct in the sciences
correctly or incorrectly and the parent will
not know which he is doing unless he be in
formed by some of the pupils.
Now why do parents thus neglect an &C.
knowledged duty, duty too which they owe
to the objects Of their strongest affections. to
their children whom they love as they do their
own souls
Some say they cannot find time to visit the
schools but, let me ask DO they not take time
for other things net half 50 important? If
their children were at work for them, would
they not ind time, to at least occasionally see
how they were getting alOug2 Even if it
does take little time, should not parents at-
ford it, when the best interests of their chill.
drcn are at stake?
But say others, we do dot understand the
branches studied and consequently we cannot
tell whether the scholars are doing we'll or not
If they do not understand all Of the branch
es, they do some of them They do know
when their children read and spell we'll, if
they hear them, they can tell whether they re-
cite readily and promptly, whether they are
studi0us and obedent or lazy idle and trou-
blesomo.
If they will 60 to the school occasionally,
| they will know whether or not, their own chill
dren are supplied with books such as they re-
quire to make good progress, they will find
ont too, what many parents seem not to know,
whether the school house is comfortable and
convenient, or whether their children, whom
! they are most careful to make as comfortable
as possible at home, are obliged to sit all day
in rooms so cold that they are in danger, every
| hour, Of contracting diseases that will consign
them to early graves they will ascertain, by
going to the school now and then to spend
an hour or two whether seats without backs,
stoves without doors, and outside doors with
out atcheS are such things as the pupils and
teachers ought to be satisfied with.
Others say, it is the business of the Direct
ors to employ the teachers and visit the schools
also, and We are thus exonorated from all re-
| sponSbiity n the matter but is this so p
Because the law requires directors to hire, and
superintendents to examine and license teach
ers, and also, to visit the schools does it there
! fore free parents from the duty they owe to
! their children. Shall ! neglect my child be-
cause the law obliges directors to hire persons
to teach him, together with the other children
OF the neighborhood Shall pay no atten-
ton to the health of my boy, because ply
Scian has been employed to look to his bodily
ailments? No attention to his morals because
he has a Sabbath school teacher, selected per-
haps, and appointed by some other person
Well, eXclaims another, we have first rate
teacher all the scholars says so, and | am sat-
isfed that all goes right, and even if it does
not, | cannot alter it, so what is the use in
my spending time in running to the school,
Suppose you have first rate teacher, he may
not have all first rate scholars, and }et me say
to you ia all kindness, that it takes good schol-
ars, as we'll as good teacher to make good
school. He wants sympathy, and encourage
ment, and perhaps advice, if he is first rate
teacher, and he wants them from you, parents.
You have a first rate hand in your store, or
shop, or on yOur farm, do you therefore
neglect him for months, and thereby show to
him that you feel no interest in what he is
doing. You employ first class physician
when your child is sick, but do you not want
to know whether he is killing or curing him 7
Do you never give any attention to a suit in
court, because you have secured the services
Of first class lawyer to manage the case?
Parents, if you only knew how glad your
teachers would be to see you at the schools, if
it were but once a term even, you could not
stay away. If you knew how much you would
delight your own children, how much you
would encourage the teacher, aud how much
good you could DO the whole school by spend
ing an occasional hour with the scholars and
teacher, you could not stay away term after
term aud year after year.
VIII you not 90 and see what kind Of hou-
seS your children have to spend their days in,
what kind of desks and seats and outdoor
conyenierces they have furnished for them in
their young, sprghtly, hopeful days Go
among them in their sports on the muddy high
way, see how those little dear ones, of whom
you are so tender when at home, are obliged
to get along and suffer and endure in the
houses in which they are to attempt to get an
education.