The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-11-01
To the Patrons Of Public Sccools,
BY JAMES DILTs.

Every parent ieels q lively interest in the
progress Of the children toward mental de-
velopment, and almost every parent Ia
bors much and sacrifices much and does it
willingly and even gladly 10 secure to the
boys and girls opportunity of becoming
wise and useful. There are none who
would not wish and few who do not hope |
to sec some member of the houshold rise
above mediocrity, and for the realization |
of this hope 10 labor that is possible is too
great to perform, no sacrifice that is posi- |
sible istoo great to make; and the criticism
so often indnlged in before institutes and
through educational Journals, that because
parents do not visit their children at school
they are there fore Indifferent to the train
ing there given, is in the main groundless.
That parents do not az a rule visit the
schools is undeniably true, but that they
are therefore careless does not by logical
process follow. The reason teacher and
children are lef: to work 60 completely
alone, is that patrons do not know how
HuCi tuSlk tCGttSlbLiiA ELNoC4eC hCuih SS-@-
tribute to the general results Of the work
of educating. Could the parents know
even as mperfecsly as the winter, Or as any
body having considerable experience in
teaching knows, how much it means to i
child to see his father or mother at school,
interested in his conduct and labor, listen
ing when he reads and watching when he
indicates with letters and with figures the
processes of his calculations, not many
would be strangers to the teacher Of their
children or to the processes by which the
young mind is sehooled to the guidance of
the will and strengthened for great efforts
in busy life To simply ask considera-
tion Of this subject is the wish OF the writer
confident that with consideration will come
conviction that much good and easy of do
ing invites the hands of every patron OF
passing thought only is sufficient to ap.
prehend and understand the fact ftlnda-
mental to all Scientific teaching, that
through attention alone can instruction
and discipline be impaired 10 the mind
and that the amount of instruction and
discipline impaired is always in the ratio
other things equal, ofthe attention given tc
the subjec. or thing considered. No space
need be occupied in demonstrating this
proposition. 4 moments intelligent reflec.
iion will establish its truth.
: Now in childhood and early youth the
, degree of attention given to subject OIL
+. thing ia almost universally in the ratio Of tbs
/ degree Of interest felt, at the time in thai
4 subject or thiDg.-This proposition doe!
] not apply lowell disci plined minds. 1t ii
a the chief object Of sch ool training OF shon!d
a be, TO so discipline the mind that attention
4 can be commanded to any subje,t or thing
$ whatever as The will may direct. But thi
n degree Of disciplin comes not to youth, bu
= is born only Of patient arduons mental sp
0 plicatiun through weary years. The pro
t position is applicable 10 most pupils in th
public schools, and it is applicable to mint
in general inversely to the ratio ofacquired
o discipline Believeing that the trnth O
e this proposition also will commend itselft
it every careful mind draw the conclusio
). without Offering argument on either pre-
% mise. If through attention only disciplin
II and instruction can be impaired and III
n amount of discipline and instruction is i
n the ratio of the degree Of attention and
Is If the degree of attention given to q sui
l. iect or thing is in the ratio Of the interei
e felt, at the time in that subject or thin
n then:
p Decipline and instruction can be impair
p ed TO sthe minds of the young only b
awakening in those minds interest in SON
subject or thing and the amount of disciI
y line and instruction will be in the ratio c
D. the interest felt at the time in that suhjet
le or thing.
rs Now If this conclusion is legitimatel