The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-01-21
Written for the Spirit)
OUR SCHOOLS,
NO III,

=
asa no III ans ~ I
The relation of parents to the public
school must be better understood, and
their cooperation secured to much
greater extent beforeseur schools can he
made to accomplish what they ought
Parents n.nst not complain of 4 want Of
efficiency while doing So little TO rem"ye
that want. Is it not notorious fact that
they manifest bat very little interest in,
or concern for, the schools which are to
furnish theicschilafen, With allahe educa-
lien they will ever receive from hat
spurceys H2N nrlsAg are taey sem y
sch'ioi smerelysfol siis pnlpese Of gettIag
them ont of ne Hsy at home p iISw
lean they be expected To 10 any good
fwi honti books, states, organything else
| the, should haSer n w o6fJea have We
seen weeks sand months OF Valuable uue
wasted Tor the want Of very few dimes
worth acfAboeks9 s. aaE sgszE kzss'
| Some neqlectto FL 4iishs books, some
refuse, and some don't case- a cent one
way eer ,he seii,et, willie 4til an ID er
class doegedIy Insist ,hst VIA tes
books their .ehi.lren do have sllaiis iFAesef
IA different kiud frsuhattase used II the
sehoo!,or in the classes where they prop
ferlv belong Palenls, yoh must lemsm-
Der that your neglect, OF refusal. to fur
nish the right books at the iighf time lis
a great sinjary, not only to gour owh
children, hu t. the whole school D.
you ask ho@Y Su p Sc we are jist
ready to slart a large Ittass in arithlbeto,
and vnls oir.-tl.ifd s2e, furnished and
ready I We. must a her wait W.. 81
three weeks for another thir,i and Eve or
six. for the las tnWd To furnish them
selves with .hnuks and slates, or .lar,
them with oie book ttAeve1y thfae sa.hai-
ars, fAose without books neither half
understand, nor ha,f keep up, tie les
sons drag heaS., and when more hooks
arg furnished e must coininanre at the
beginning again. Dah-ra.se We mnst
start them ainglv or ihpaifs, aal have
almost rs MANY classes as books, ant
divide the time OF one good recitation
into as many parts as there are Classes,
cheating each fraction of class out, OF
the greaaer portion of the time, in,lss-
pehsahle For the proper explanation OF
the lesson, the loss falling on all alike.
1t is just 50 in every branch If study.
Classes are neeJiessly maliip led. and
the teachers time so much divided up
that he can do justice To nothing.
! This is one great reason why so many
young men and women are passing the
limits OF school age with 50 little edu-
cation Parents often send their childten
SO irres sularIy that they receive but very
little benefit themselves, while their IT,
regularity Is . greet hindrance ~ lherest
OF the school, ESPECIALLY to the class s
made up 10 part hysuch irregular atten-
dants. The most tr,6ang circumstances
are allowed to keep them away or make
them fsJe tFIs,it possible thstthose WHO
care sso littlesfor regularity in attendance.
J or proper equipage. Will beAat any pains
to encourage sheir children in aieif stti-
dies, or manifest interest enoughto visit
the school, or give the teacher little
encouragement encein a while e Trey
are lol merely careless ami Indifferent.
but Often speak and act with reference to
1.-THE school and teachers in shehl "a way as
to work directly against the interests Of
| both @sess $50 sSse9ss.s
When will parents learn the imports
ance OF cooperating with teachers in the
education OF their own children?
Houses are bni,t aud teaciitfs employ
ed al public expen.e, and must great
pa;t Of this go for nanght, simply be
cause parents are too negi gent To avail
| themselves of thu benefits of such boun-
tifu ptosisionf .Egsa
Ii education is a blessing go desirable
as 10 Justify the expenditure of so much
money, surely parents do their children
very gfaat wrons in not helping and
encouraging them to make the most of
| it, Parents, there are many wars.in
which YOU can ren.ief This aid. Visit
the school Get aeqrihted with the
teacher Encourage and aid him in
every way you can Learn frdiii linn
how your ehldsen are Progressing what
! the hiadfances. if auy.in their way what
he waRts that need 10 be supplied. in
what they need encouragement, aud in
what geu.ie afmonition Interest your-
selves in their studies around the even
Ing tireside; s. i've t5 increase their in
tercst y, asking hem qles ioiis. and lead
/ ing them to ASK aqae tions, about their
lessons, winch should he answered as far
as practicsb.e. Gi't them 10 ks FenS,
Estates. pencils, iik, Paper. wleg ne led.
| withnul stiit, Or grii4insls, New /,
Econdemn the taacilers iiiitheir shrsrihg
beni let frf 3 kee, then a,soase seho,,I,
bit send ress,i ariy Wide VOL 10 send =
| In s)ion do az aad ererythiag ,nd ,;as,
to pronnole the best iate ests OF tbs
school. 5ED glaills
/ belmont C0u0ey uteth$.