The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-27
For the Democrdiic Advocate,
Should Parents Talk About the
School Room and Its Work?

This is a wide and readily eomprehended subject,
and is probably somewhat categorical to loquacous
people, that act like dogs to hunt up the faults and
weak points of the teacher. However. the idea and
truth is largely advocated that it brings the sub
ject before us. How many parents visit schools
How many have visited their own schools at home?
How many know how many branches and what
branches, their children study at schooiE HOW
many know the programme OF study IN lhelr own
schools2 How many know what method is pursued
by the teacher for the advancement OF the pupils III
their respective studies? How many know and I'M
derstand what the best method is TO make success
and progress? How many aid their chilaren 70
study their lessons in the evening at home, instead
Of loungng around at the stores saloons OF some
children to the truthfulness OF their studies?
How many have libraries and papers at nome Tor
the children with their parents to enjoy and read,
instead of going away from home to enjoy some
amusement which they will have, either 10 bring
them to eternal ruin, or make men and women that
may be an ornament to their family and blessing
to their country? How many have any knowledge
of how to teach any branch or how TO conduct
of the practical questions which loquacious people
should take into consideration, and give them
thoughtful study.
In order for parents to know what is going on in
the school they should pay frequent visits to
the school, and find out for themselves what the
work consists of. They would be able, then. to
speak for or against the work, since they consider
themselves the critics But are they proper critics?
am inclined TO think not, from the fact that they
know nothing about schools, either by visiting or
otherwise How can carpenter criuclse black
smith in his work when he knows nothing at all
about it? How tailor, barber, merchant or
blacksmith, any other trades man cr1tcise teach
ing when he has no experince Whatever IN teach
ng? We must ever remember that Ignorance is
always ready TO crticisc for if A is smaller than
he will not mind BIS barking any more than any
other common dog barking along the highway since
bones themselves, and don't want anyone else TO
have them. Again, if the Board of Directors had
built the school houses i'll the store rooms saddler
shops, er any other loaiing place. probably there
would be some visiting done, or else fathers would
stay at home which they SO frequently neglect.
If Barnum or some other man had show, all the
parents that could rake and Scrape enough money
together Tor borrow if they could not rake and
scrape enough together) would let all their work
Law idle for one day, and the whole family would
attend the circus the whole day, even if it rained
public affairs how the people will give them their
whole attention well as their presence. How do
these visits compare with those of the school room
Fathers and mothers appeal to your honesty.
Is this the way to aid your children in the advance
ment of their education and gentility which seems
10 be done enormously at the school room according
TO YOUR views? Gentry character and obedience is
formed at home on the mothers lap. 1t is difficult
to straighten q tree that was planted and nursed
crooked when il reaches theschool room. You have
the child eighteen hours in day IN charge, whlle
the teacher has him but six hours. Can teacher
do as much work in six hours with forty or fifty
different children the parents who have eighteen
hours and have five or even ten children This is
Parents. again appeal to you. Look what work
lies before you, and not to the teacher alone whom
you reprimand so severely. Give the teacher elgh-
teen hours and the parent six hours and then let us
see what may be the answer to the question
In great many respects the school room is far
better than the homes of the children. In the ma
iority of the schools the Bible is read and the eyer
cises are opened by prayer and singing, whereas
there are plenty of families that it would surprise
the children to hear their father mother pray or
read portion of Scripture to them at any period of
the day. They are, however, not surprised TO hear
their father swear and uso vulgar, disrespectaDie
Language at home Just as parents teach their chill
dren at home to act talk and behave, so they will
act talk and behave at school or anywhere else.
The teacher is able to tell what family is by the
children he receives from that family. Again,
pupils would feel more at home if they had the
pleasure of meeting their parents in the school room
would encourage both teacher and pupils. In con-
eIusior let say that, every time we are ready or
willing 10 critcise the school room and teacher let
us make them o mirror and look at our own faults
and neglect and criticise them first. B. LII.