Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-09-24
COMMUNICATED.
HOME EDUCaTIoN-THE PARENTS REsPoN-
SIBILITY.

HOME EDUCATlON-THEP AhENl hEoIoN"
sIBILITY.
We once heard an old teacher say that
he could always tell the character OF the
parents by the habits and behavior Of
children that attended his school, that
children at school soon show the kind OF
home training that they receive and the
neglect of parents in this respect. Ii
parents could see themselves as teachers
see them in their children, they would
be more careful of their conduct and
their conversation. The children are
tie mirrors that reflect the character OF
the parents 10 the teachers and to the
other pupils of the school and show the
kind of teaching they receive at home,
both by the precepts and the examples
of their own households. We hear a
great deal nowadays about the great
responsibility and influence OF the
teacher, but lie is only Il keeper, very
important one it is true, in the work OF
training aud educating the youth ofthe
State. The home is the natural and di-
vinely appointed school, TO which other
schools are only supplementary.
Parents have responsibilities in the
training of their children that can not
be delegated to others. They are re-
suonsible to God for the moral training
of their children. The helpless conci-
lion of the infant and the dependent po-
sition of the child give parents supreme
control and enables them to mould the
character as they will. Mothers espec-
tally are the God-appointed teachers OF
the race. and if true to the trust given
them, they are more powerful in shap-
ing the lives of their children than all
else besides. They lay the foundations
of character and build the main walls.
There are no great men without good
mothers is proverb:ally true. The pot
ter has control only OF the clay while 1t
is in plastic state. He can not take
a badly TO- med vessel aud make it over
again. Neither can Il teacher take
chile that is uncontrolled and badly
trained at home and make an obedient
pupil, diligeut student and bright
cholar of it.
Many parents seem to think all re-
spousibility is taken away from them
when they have entered their children
ut school. In fact, some parents SEND
their children to school to get rid OF the
noise and trouble that they make while
at home and regard the school-room as
they do nursery. They never seem to
think that the children need encourage
ment and help in their studies; that
they have to be trained to habits of
promptness ard regularity in their at
tendance at school and in the prepare
ton of whatever lessons may be given
them; that in their new relation OF pu-
pill and teacher, their duty is to obey all
the commands and instructions of their
teachers as part OF their training for
citizenship, they must submit readily to
such restraints as may be imposed upon
them; that they must be punctual in the
discharge of every duty assigned them
and strive to give as little trouble as
possible to their teachers and treat them
with due respect at all times, remem-
boring that children are pupils training
for the duties and responsibilities of
manhood, when they must be submis-
sive TO the powers that be and do such
things as the restraints Of law anG soci-
ETY. require of them.
Teachers are severely cenSured by
some, because they can not do the work
of home and school both and often break
themselves down in the effort to do ev-
erything and to please everybody.
A parent will send his child TO school
on an average of two days in the week
during the school term and at the end
of the session expect the child to be as
well prepared to be advanced as others
that have been regular attendants and
diligent students. The teacher is blamed
for the child's deficiency and is spoken
dsres pectfully of in the presence of the
child and the child led TO believe that it
makes no difference with its parent
whether it goes to school regularly or
not. Thus, a positive injuryis done the
child and It's respect for the teacher de-
stroyed and the child untitled for school
duties. Is this the kind of home train.
ing that makes great men and worthy
women?
Many youths are growing up without
such home restraints and teachings rs
are necessary to train them for good cit
liens; they are encouraged by parents,
whether so meant or not, to treat with
dlsrespect their teachers and take no
commendable pride in their schools.
The blame of the reprehensible conduct
of many Of our youths is laid upon the
schools and the defect in their home
training lost sight of. The greatest de-
feet in our educational system is in the
home department. Let this be cor
rected and great good will result.
EXrERIEN CE.