Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-01-06
How Can We Best Secure the
Cooperation Of Parents ?

twp, /, and read by her at the Teachers Insti-
tute, Butler, Pa. Dec. 26-30, 1887.
The teachers and County Superin-
tendeDt should always work together.
The patrons should assist the teacher.
In no other way can the free schools
accomplish the work expected of them.
How can this cooperation be brought
about!
The first and most important thing
in the school room is a good teacher
The teacher is the life of the school,
Good teachers will succeed under al
most any circumstances. The secret
of success is enthusiasm.
Every teacher should have faith in
his work. He has right to believe
that be is doing much for humanity.
The lifeless teacher always does me-
chauical work; the true teacher will
never complain of his work being
monotonous; each day he 6nd some
thing to interest him 1t is not we'll
for teacher to talk about being busy
ben there is some work to be done
that will promote the interest of his
work
Genius is the ability to do much
work Great minds never complain
about the trivial affairs of life. We
Deed more devotion-more ambition
in the school room. But very few
teachers ipjure themselves by over.
work 1t is only the careless and in
different that are always SO busy.
When your school goes wrong do not
complain. Fault finding never yet
accomplished any good. More earn
est work on the part Of the teacher
removes many of the difficulties from
the school room. 1t is not the part
of q wise teacher to find fault with
his pupils. The best results are OBJ
taiDed when all cooperate. A fault
finding spirit will do much to weaken
the Influence of the teacher Little
evils can be over looked without in
juring the success Of the school. At
the foundation Of all instructions is
this principle: ITO train up child in
the way be should go, you must
walk in it yourself" You must ever
be ever be eAemplers as well as
teachers. To make others true, you
must be true yourself; to make Others
wise, you must be wise. If you
preach temperance and practice drunk
enness, no one will heed you. There
are two classes Of teachers that OBJ
serve:
One class is pedantic. pompous,
self-contained, magisterial When be
stands before children he fills them
With awe, instead of playing on their
heart-strings by the mighty power of
love. Such teaching has few results.
The child looks up with awe. The
little delicate tendrils of his infant
mind cannot reach up and grasp in
struction from such a teacher, The
second class of teachers trings sun
shine into the school room. Child
rem turn to them as flowers to the
light. There is an atmosphere OF
sunshine around -uch a teacher.
His own light attracts all to him for
their good and growth You say to
your scholars in the morning: "Chil-
dren, there ia great deal to be done
to day; you have got to work very
bard, and don't want to see one
idler" /" How their spirits drop; the
old story Of the discontented pendu-
lnm is as nothing to the herculean
task they have before them. And
then after that. try your very best,
you will be utterly disappointed at
the little ace, mplished But say
nothing Of the kind to them; simply
go on from one thing to another. max
ing light CT this and having talk on
that, interspersing with the "play"
hinted at, and your success in the
line indicated is assured They will
go home at night buoyant over the
happy day they have had. 1t you
want to make boy honest trust
him. Let boy know you suspicion
him ond he will deceive you if he
can. No one likes to be watched.
Teachers seldom make a mistake by
placing too much confidence in their
pupils. But few men are mean
enough to destroy the confidence
others have placed in them. Let
boy know that you expect him to do
right. and you appeal to his better
nature. Teachers who have no con-
fidence in their pupils, and remove
their books when they hold an exam
inatien usually complain of the re-
suits. Those who wish to copy can
always find opportunities for doing
SO. My experience has been that it
is best to regard all persons as hon.
est until they have been proven
guilty, The average young person
will not abuse the confidence placed
in him by endeavoring to secure q
higher per cent than he deserves.
We should train for life. not for
school. In all things the teacher
should endeavor to develop the no.
blest traits of character. If he sus-
picions his pupils they, in turn, will
have no confidence in their class
mates Train the boys and girls to
be honest. not because it is a good
policy, but because it. is right.
Much depends upon correct be-
ginning. A mistake made the first
day is seldom corrected. The best
work is accomplished when teachers
and pupils work together. A pleas
ant school house makes school gov
ernment an easy task. 1t is almost
impossible for the average boy TO do
good work in an old dilapidated
school house. Everything suggests
to EVIL or mischief. The old SCARED
desks are temptation even to jack
knife. Boys do not injore good desks
and seldom mark Oh a neat wall If
you want boys to be good make the
school room pleasant. The teacher
is not expected to purchase decks and
furniture. Decorate the walls Have
: 49,. L,1xt IN IA xxy,xL Whot