Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-09-01
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sSruyuDAY..-.....-SEpr. 1, 1883
WI. :. nc.pcD,Iblc:-we often

who II Rcsponsiblc"-Wc often
hear IL said that teachers 10 not manage
the pupils now rs they did inOlden times.
We hear men, speaking OF their schoo!
DAYS, say that when they went To school
IL pupils did not know their lessons, Or
departed from the rigid rules that then
prevailed, they were severely punished
and made to do, by fear Of punishment,
what "moral Suasion" is now expected to
do, and quote the action of certain OLD
teachers i'm this place to sustain their
statements. u children complained to
their parents of tho acts of the teacher
thcy received double portion at home
for giving the teacher cause for furnishing
them. Then, say they, parents governed
their children, but now children govern
their parents and do as they please, going
to school when anil where they please and
spending more time out of school than in
il. We repeat, who is responsible for
this? Ia the teacher or parent RESPONSE
bic? The teacher is required 10 do all the
studying, all the teaching and all the
work of the school; the pupil must not
even. know that he is going TO school, and
rs for studying or preparing his lessons,
such thing Is prepostcrous and too old
fashioned for these days Of Improvement.
Tho school must be made place of
a y 4 l. al
edge they obtain must he impaired to
them in some mysterious way by the
teacher without any effort on thc.part OF
the pupil and without his knowing that
what is done is for his instruction. Text
books and study ara things CT the past. To
gain knowledge by hard study and close
application to books is an obsolete idea.
The teacher must not exercise any re-
straint over the conduct of the pupil, but
must allow him TO have his own way in
everything. lie must allow him to move
about, talk to his neighbors, so out and
come in as he desires, neglect his books
and do whatever may amuSc him at school
and relieve its tediousnesS. The child
must not be forced TO attend school when
he does not feel like it, rs he knows villa,
is best for him, and the parent has learned
10 lesson from his own experience and
observation. If the parent sees his neigh
boris children "leaI ming faster and
growing in the estimation of others, he
blames the teacher for the slow progress
OF the children over which the parent ex-
ercises no control and shows no interest in
their studies.
This is no fancy sketch. 1t is the OK.
pcricnce of every teacher; and he leaves
his school-room every evening discour-
aged and dishcartcnci at the failure of his
efforts and the want Of cooperation on
the part of parents, and his nights are
spent in sleeplessness devising ways and
means of inducing children to attend
school regularly and pay more attention
to study. He tries prizes and rewards,
and spends much of his meagrc salary in
buying these and other things to make his
schOOl-room attractive and his teaching
more Instructive, Dlt sun tue chiIurei
will stay at home, or come so irregularly
that they lose all interest in the studies
and miss many opportunities Of learning
from the extra labOrs of the teacher.
Parents, you are responsible. You are
imposing heavy burden upon the teacher
You abuse him without cause, and blame
him for what you alone are responsible.
Instead of encouraging and sustaining the
teacher, you are doing all yOu can to de-
stroy his influence and weaken his eff
CHENEY rs an instructor OF youth. We
know that the teacher has his faults rs
well rs others, but do not lay to hts charge
what does not properly belong to him. II
he labors faithfully and strives TO do hi:
work well, lend him helping hand and
sustain his labors. Bear these things in
mind and be not over hasty 10 blame the
teacher for the failures and faults Of your
children. Hold up his hands while he
fights the battle, and the victory will be
yours.