Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-11-13
CONCERNING SCHOOLS.

ISuD10lneQ article which was writer
!: for Chippewa Falls and published il
the Herald. I'VE have omitted tn
first part of the article. Read it care
fully:
| 1t strikes me, now, in thinking tn,
situation over, that there must be a
least two classes of people who pat
ronize our public schools. There j
one class who are devoted to the caus
| of public education who send thei
children to obey. to get an education
to be trained in habits of industry
scbriety, politeHess, promptness ane
morals generally. There is another
class who. though protesting friend
ship the same, are the worst enemies
either through ignorance of what il
really being done OF else through
wilful disrespect of law and order ane
the cause which they profess to up
hold. They instruct their children
to disobey at school. They are afraid
CT over education-they can't BIZ
persuaded to know only a small
amount of any one subject, which
probably accounts for their one-sided
view of questions that come up-ir
short they do not care to have their
children learn habits of industry OF
respect or Difference for others. They
pride themselves on their ability to
find fault, gift which they intend to
make use of, no doubt with Jehovah
when they get on the other side Of
Jordon.
And now a word or 80 to each class.
To the first class, | wish to say that
we will endeavor to meet your expect
tations and advance your children to
a reasonable extent, provided you will
aid US in the way you ought. We
want you to sustain US in every rea-
sonable action. We want you to
take deeper interest in the welfare
of your child, to GENE to the school
and inspect our work, to send your
child to school regularly and punct-
ually, to compel obedience at school
as well as at home. to cause "study
hours" to be observed faithfully
evenings, to keep your child off the
streets, away from the skating rink,
dances and parties, to the interruption
of school work /; keep them off the
ice winter nights, and prevent their
"coasting'' half the night-to come
to school next day only to be listless
and lifeless, or prehaps sick. Keep
your boy or girl away from all forms
of dissipation. Know where they
are at all times and under all circum.
stances. Know the kind of company
they keep. The best company child
can keep is the compauionship of the
father and mother at home. Denounce
all tatling or tale bearing. IF you
become dissatisfied with anything that
may arise, 60 first to the teacher and
make an investigation and know her
reasons for the course she persues. In
school, do your part towards your
child first, and then towards the
teacher. Both teacher and parent
are working the same object. Do not
neglect your duty, meet US half way,
give us half a chance, bear half the
unjust blame which We get. Then Pc
tition to have us removed if we fail to
do our part of the work satisfactorily.
We would suggest to the second class
that you do not concern yourselves
about the attendance Of your children
at school Don't try to have them
learn habits of promptness, cultivate
in them disobedience at home and
they will be SO at school. Impress
them thoroughly with the idea of
being disrespectful to teachers and
everybody, encourage them in pro-
family, tatling and tale bearing. Let
them trample on every body, insult,
and in no way respect the rights of
anyone. Let them run the streets
night and day, hang around the saloons
and stables. They ought to 60 to the
skating rink four times day and
twice night. Let them attend all
the dances and parties that take place.
SO that they may know how to ''appear
Il