American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-20
Educational department,
Parental Co-0peration.
BY D. W. ELDER.

they and see how your children are pro-
crossing" "Visit the school, and by 50
doing, you will encourage both the teach
er and the pupil" l shall not urge this
point. / think that enough-perhaps too
much, has been already said upon it. l
doubt whether much good would result
from such visiting.
If parents understood the proper meth
cd of conducting schools, and were wise
in their manner of making suggestions, no
doubt their visits would be useful. But
prrents in general are ignorant of the
business of teaching, for the same reason,
that one mechanic isignorant of the trade
of another-because he never learned it.
But want of knowledge does not prevent
men from criticising. 1t is weakness of
human nature to find fault with what we
can not understand IF it were customa-
ry for all the parents to visit the school
many of them would make criticisms and
suggestions, which would at once display
their own ignorance and embarrass the
teacher No. a few of them would find
fault with the teachers rules in the pres
ence of his pupils, by which their respect
for their teacher would be diminished and
his usefulness impaired. IF all the par
ents should visit the school frequently Gas
some teachers recommcnd) the presence
Of so many spectators, and their frequent
entrances and exits would distract the at
tention of the pupils from their studies,
and destroy the order of the school Such
visiting would probably prove a risttattoa
to the teacher, and an injury, rather than
a benefit. to the school, Besides it is not
really necessary. The law has provided
for the visiting of the schools by the
Board of Directors, and if the people do
their duty by electing the right kind of
men to that office, the schools will be suf-
fciently visited.
shall endeavor, then, to show how par
ents can cooperate with the teachers, if
they see fit, without ever entering the
school room.
The word cooperate" if defined ac-
cording to its ctymology, means, to 'corh
,ciH or, IN aid Of The parent co-opc-
rates with the teacher, when his labors aid
the efforts of the teacher, and render
them more effective. This implies, that
there is such thing as working against
the teacher, as when the labors of the pa
rent counteract those Of the teacher |
shall first show how parent can work
against the teacher, and then it will more
clearly appear howhe can cooperate with
him.
First, then, if you wish to work against
the teacher, be sure to speak disrespect-
fully of him IN The presence Of yow chH-
dren Be careful to let them know, that
you consider ham entirely unfit for his po-
sition. Ridicule his mode of teaching,
find fault with his rules for the govern
ment of the school, and, in every possible
way, make your children dissatisfied with
him. Listen to the reports they bring
from school, and comment on them as
nnfavorably as possible. IF the teacher
should exercise any authority over your
children, resent it as an outrage Give
your child instructions like these -" II
the teacher orders you to doso again, tell
him, / said you shouldn't! In this way you
will excite a spirit of rebellion in them
But do not confne your efforts to your
children. Speak against him to your
neigbbors and endeavor to excite them
against him. IF he should sometimes
give way to angry feelings in the school
room, and speak or act imprudently (and
who does not sometimes act imprudent-
ly?) be careful to turn the circumstances
to account. Do not go to him and tell
him his fault privately. Retail the story
to your neighbors; exaggerate it little
and then put the significant question-ls
such man fit to teach our children?
If the teacher is female, make the
assertion in the presence of your chill.
dren, that no ,comaa is fit to teach school
Make your boys think it is degrading for
them to obey the orders of "toonan. u
Teach them to be rude and impudent to
her; and if she should punish them, &c
and make a mighty fuss about it.
Be careless whether your children are
provided with the necessary books or not
Send them to school irregularly. Let
them 60 one day, and then keep them
home two. Detain them half au hour af
ter school opens in the morning, and send
them with orders to come home at recess
i Of course, they will learn but little in this
way, and then you con triumphantly point
to their wantof progress as proof of the
incompetencv of the teacher.