Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-14
THE MOTHERS DUTY.
THE CARE OF CHILDREN "a THR
MOTHER SHOULD EXERCISE 1T.
A Lay Sermon tha4 May be Read WIN
PFoar by All.

AhtAoSe NAIA0s1NCiN IN the uhuus "a
the home and the school, so that the,
mother of the child and the teacher of
the child are the responsible parties-are,
or should be. 1t is far too common to
see the mother breathe sigh of relief as
she hurries along the preparation for
school IN the morning, and to hear her
say, as the door slams after the last pair
OF small feet, ''Therel thank goodness,
the children are off for a while" And
the children 60 to school, and at the end
OF the day the weary schoolma'am closes
her door, also with sign of relief, and
exclaims: fWell, thank goodness,
another day is overi" The poor children
are thus tossed back and forth between
school and home like a new style of
shuttlecock, and they must be dull In
deed If they do not soon discover that
they are considered a nuisance and
bore in both places, to be got rid of as
soon as possible. And exceedingly
phlegmatic and unimpressionabIe will be
the child's nature which is not influenced
by this discovery.
This feeling of relief on the part of
the mother as the children are dismissed
for the day is too often quite unwar-
ranted; for if she could know exactly
into what associations and under what
influences she is sending them, her feel
ing Of relief would sometimes be changed
into one of shuddering horror. Mind,
we say sometimes only. 1t has yet to be
proved that the influences of the public
school are in the main pure, healthful,
and helpful. But, as in any system
which is so truly enormous in extent,
which involves SO many individuals and
conditions, there are exceptions, and it
rs the duty of every mother to see that
there is not one of these dreadful Eek
ceptions" where her own are concerned.
For example, consider the matter of
the teacher alone. Do you know him
or her to be fit person for the place 1t
was the late DR.. Holland who said that
he considered the teachers position Sec
ond to none. 1.-THE Christian teacher
of band of children combines the Office
of the preacher and the parent, and has
more to do in shaping the mind and the
morals of the community than preacher
and parent united. The teacher who
spends six hours day with my child
spends three times AS many hours as
do, and twenty-fold more time than my
pastor does. I have no words to ex-
press my sense of the Importance of the
Office. Still less have l words to express
my sense of the importance of having
that Office filled by men and women of
the purest motives, the nOblest enthu-
siasm, the finest culture, the broadest
charities, and the most devoted Christian
purpose. Why, teacher should be the
strongest and most angelic man that
breathes. No man living is entrusted
with such precious material No man
living can do so muchs0 set life to a
noble tune. No man living needs higher
qualifications for his work.
Many and many, the great and vast
majority in fact, of ''the noble army of
martyrs" whom we call teachers, have
even the high requirements suggested
above; for, as a class, one can hardly
find in any walk of life, more enthusiast
tic, devoted, consecrated men and wo-
men, especially the women. Yet there
are exceptions, as a matter of course,
among so many; women who teach
merely from mcrcenary motives, whose
influence is utterly sordid and frivolous
men whose lives are morally so rotten
/ 1AAeAe eAAN VI AuCAl IOuCn UPON lUG
minds and lives of young girls, and
boys just growing into manhood, is
enough to make one shudder. Do you
know that your boys or your daughters
teacher is not one of these horrible ex-
captions
On the other hand, if your childs'
teacher belongs to the opposite pale as
regards character and qualifications, it is
no less your duty and privileged to know
this man or woman as intimately as pos
sible. If he is conscientious and intel
igent person he and you are each work
ing for the same end-the proper de-
velopment of the mental, physical and
moral nature of your children. You can
aid each other, by cooperation to an ex-
tent which will astonish you if you have
never tried it. You may be able to tell
him sOf some peculiarly of the child,
some twist in his temperament, some
trait of character inherited from his
grandfather, of which the teacher would
otherwise know nothing, and which may
be a very important and necessary factor
to'censider in the childs training. He,
on the other hand, will no doubt be able
to inform you of capabilities for good or
bad In your child, which are called out
in the school life as theyare not at home,
and which it should be yours to repress
or encourage as the case may be. One
might multiply these supposititious cases
ad iaysNituns, and the writer from her
own experience alone could give MANY
interesting Illustrations, but we feel sure
that every reader can furnish them for
| herself
In conclusion, then, let every mother
see herself about making the acuuaint
ance of her child's teachers, provided
she has not already done so. Cali on
them, invite them to your house. talk
with them privately-neye before the
children-as TO the nature of their
charges and of what can be done at
home to help the work of the school.
and vice versa. Cooperate with them.
sympathize with them, sustain them
whenever you can. If ron HAYES differ
ence Of opinion talk it ever with them
confidentiallF first. Ten to one yon win