Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-09-06
For The HERALD.
TO PARENTS AND DIRECTORS.

While we acknowledge and duly APP
preciate the beneficial labors performed
by large majority of parents and di-
rectors of our public schools, we feel that
there is a great deficiency on the part of
others, and we would desire to mention
few facts, for we believe word to the
wise is sufficient.
In the first place the directors are chos-
en- by a majority of the people, to appoint
teachers, and have general oversight of
the interests of the schools. Then after
they have chosen teachers in accordance
to their best Judgment, and surrounding
circumstances, we think it the duty of
parents to endeayor to do their part in
aiding the teachers to perform their du-
ties, although they may not altogether
agree upon their modes of conducting
the schools. We must now consider the
teacher as the one who is to have charge
of the school for the specified time, and
if things Go not exactly please our own
ideas, now can it possibly do any good to
stand off and berate the teacher for some
trifiing things? This is generally done
without the teacher knowing much about
it, and the only effect it can produce is to
create an unhealthy feeling between pu-
pills and teachers, and often cause pupils
to lose confidence in teachers who are
in every way competent to impart USE
full knowledge to them if they were en-
couraged at home to have respect for the
teachers desires.
We have known parents to encourage
their children to operate in direct oppo-
sition to the rules of the school and
directions of the teacher; thus abusing
every just regulation which is essential
80 l. 4.
school can be successfully conducted
Now what authority can teacher have
in school where his pupils are instruct
ed by their parents to disobey their just
rules? And what chance is there for a
teacher to advance his pupils when he is
interfered with in the most mild forms
of punishment for the omission of duties
necessary for their speedy advance
ment?
Besides this, parents have no right to
interfere with the teachers school ar
rangements, for the law gives him
the same authority over the children at
school that the parent has at home they
are for the time his family to educate
and govern. And how can any rational
minded person complain if the teacher
does not in all cases govern their child
rem Just as they would do it themselves
for he has probably the children of a
dozen or twenty families, and double
that many different dispositions to be-
come acquainted with and some mothers
who find it very difficult task to keep
their children regulated at home where
the temptations for mischief are not near
SO great, send them to school at an early
age to be relieved of their care and tfou- |
BILE; then if the teacher cannot govern |
Ixy ,;rr oil 4
with thirty or sixty other children he is |
denounced for incompetency in teaching |
and governing And children are prone |
to report various transactions which take |
place at school which is probably all
right ; but parents should not be too |
ready to judge of the proceedings of the
school from these reports; for although |
the children may intend to be strictly |
truthful, they often place different con-
struction upon things, and represent
them very differently from the original
idea and intent of the teacher.
Parents feel somewhat vexed and with
out going to hear the other side of the |
question, complain to the directors about
the teacher not fulfilling his duty, and |
they, equally remiss in regard to visiting |
the school to see it in it's true light, COM
plain to the teacher for not fulfilling the
law, while they themselves have not full
filled the law in regard to visiting
schools.
Now hope such parents and directors
will remember the charge laid down in
the 9TH verse of the 18th chapter of st.
Matthew. First cast out the beam out
of thine own eye and then shalt thou |
see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy |
brothers. eye" Now parents 1 entreat |
you to not be too anxious to condemn |
the teachers of our children, for their |
task is truly trying and responsible one !
and needs the hearty cooperation of all |
parents and directors
If you are displeased at any thing they
have done, do not let your children know
anything about it, but go quietly to the
teacher yourselves and talk it over with
him, and nine cases out of ten you can
be satisfied in regard to the trouble with
out the very deleterious results arising
from the discussion of the subject att
home before the children. For if the
pupils have not respect and confidence in
the teacher they will not be benefit
ed very materially by their attendance
at school.
In order to have healthy tone of ac-
ton in the school-room, it is absolutely
necessary that the teacher should have
the respect of his pupils, and the pupils
the respect of their teacher, and we be-
lieve this would be easily done with the
proper efforts on the part of the parents !;
for it is the testimony of many compet-
ent teachers, that nine-tenths of all the
trouble and difficulties of the school-room
have their origin with unthoughtful par
ents. j. S. q.
II