Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-12-18
For tEe JOURNAL.
SCHOOL pEEgs. NO.
Things Requisite for Coed School.

Things Requisite for Coed School.
By good school we do not meas one
which simply finds favor with pupils srf
parents so that it is patronized; poor
school may be POPULAR and Il good sche q
may be unpopular. But . good school
! is one SO constituted and conducted a.
to do ,ceU the acork Ct school, i. c, to
guide the pupils in knowledge, aud dis
/ cpIine their minds. A school is a p''ae1
for 10th instruction and training. How
ever pleasant instruction may be made
to the pupils, it is not always that tLor.
ough training Can be made agreeable g.
scholar, parent, or teacher. We say
again, then, not the popularity Of
school, but the acorh it is fitted to accom-
pIish, is the criterion of its excellence.
What, then, arc the requisites for q
good school?
l. Real manly or womanIy worth and
character on the part Of the teachers.
On this point we do not now wish to
make more than tho simple statement.
2, knowledge, on the part Of the
teachers, of the subjects to be taught, and
the ability to impart that knowledge to
others. This seems to be selfeyiIent.
8. Enough of the commanding elo-
ment in the character of the teachers to
enable them to go,ern the school For
those who believe that yonog human ma
ture needs governing, this idea, also. re-.
Quires no argument:
4, A we'll arranged and well furnished
school house.
These points have all been so well
urged and are so generally acknowledged
that We may now pass item by and con-
sider other points, equally important, but
less frequently discussed.
5. Parents need to train their children
to habits of obedience at homo. and to
honor the teachers authority at school.
Obedience at home and obedience ut
school go hand in hand. 1t is vain, It il
absurd, to expect cheerful submission to
the rules of school, however reasonab,,
Or necessary those rules may be, unless
parental authority be well established.
Children who gorern their parents ut
home will be the first and the loudest 70
complain Of severe rules at school. Mark
this.
Parents must take the trouble to sen.
their children to school regularly and
punctually. 1t may require care anil
trouble on the part of parents, and cspe-
cialIy on the part of the mother, 10 do
this, but we know not how otherwise a
good school can be secured. l. is not
wish to usurp or show authority, nor is
it a carclessness Or forectlrlncss of the
wants and feelings Of parents, That i'm,
pels school Boards and teachers ID ask
and require punctuality; it is tho fact,
armed by experience, that pupils Meth
or make progress nor retain their interest
in their studies when their attendance il
irregular. A tardy scholar, ten chance
to one, comes with poor lesson. anl
does not care whether lis lessons be qon,l
or poor. The writer believes that :.
proper thoughtfulness would remedy tlln
evil of irregular aud tar1y attendance g,
school. He believes that thero are ~
impossibilites to be overcome IIo rc
members his own boyhood-his homo
mile and half from school-Eis mother
widow, and no one but himself and
brother, both mere boys, to 10 the work
upon the farm at home. vet few DAYS in
winter saw them absent from the school
The teachers and the Board appeal l.,
you-Fathers and Mothers--to aid them
in securing this last-namcd requisite Tor
good school. They invite You t., visit
the school at anytime and without cere-
mony, learn what the teachers are doing
and are trying to do. learn what their
difficulties arc, and be their friends.
This will cost You little labor, but will
br.ng untold good to your children.
L. B. T.
PREscoTr, Dec. l4th, 1851.