Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-01-16
TEACHERS COLUMN.
Co All communications intended
for this column should be addressed
to S.P. Stgibling, School Commis-
sS;:1es, Waihaiia, S. G.
Corporation Of Parents.

One of tho greatest aids to the
successful and easy management of
school is the cooperation of the
parents of the pupils. Without
this the teacher labors at a great dis
advantage; with it his efforts arc
much more likely to succeed. In
some districts this cooperation is
easily secured, is given unsought
while in other districts considerable
skilful effort on the part of the
teacher is needed to win the parents
from their indifference or antago-
iism to the school. Some teachers,
though poor in many respects, arc
very skilful in this influence, and
hence have 2 comparatively success
full, and always an easy, manage
Incnt.
TO win this CO. operation q teacher
must generally do something more
than be worthy Of it, though that is
an indispensable condition of its per.
mancncy.
First, the teacher should as soon
as possible become acquainted with
the parents of the pupils. Nine
out of ten parents viii welcome a
call from the teacher of their chill
'drcn. Nor need the teacher wait
for formal invitation. In most
sections short, informal calls may be
made before, or shortly after, the
opening Of school During these
calls the teacher may converse upon
school affairs, and especially concern
ing the hopes and desires entertained
for the children Of the parent visited.
In this way, without being at all in
quisitive, the teacher may come to
know much of the educational at
mosphcrc Of the district, will dis
cover some snags to be avoided, and
more than all may convince the pa
rents of ,thc teachers interest in
their children, and thus lay the
foundation for mutual good under
Standing. ~ re is one danger here
to young aud strong teachers, and
that is that the teacher will modify
his teaching from what is right to
what will accord with the wishes Of the
parents. This mistake need not be
made and should not. But the teacher
who best knows his environment is
best prepared to successfully put into
use the best ways Of teaching.
Again, n teacher can secure the
cooperation of the parents by
making his teaching, especially some
parts of arithmetic, practical in the
everyday life of the community.
He should study the most common
occupations and forms OF business
of the vicinity, and shape part of
his instruction in arithmetic toward
fitting his pupils for these practical
affairs. 1t may be in lumber re-
gion. Here thorough and correct
instruction may be given in meas
nring and computing the cost of
piles of lumber, logs, or wood. 1t
may be near a large cooperative
cheese factory or creamery. Here
the pupils should be taught to appor-
tion the proceeds of the sales to the
several persons by means OF ratio
table. This same method will teach
them how to make out the district
tax list. If the teacher does uot
know how to do this he should learn
how before he again attempts to
teach taxes. \ double benefit will
arise from this, bringing some of the
teaching into close application to the
practical affairs Of the community.
Not only will tho parents he inter
cstcd in the school, and hence will
likely cooperate with the teacher,
but the teacher himself will learn
much Of what ''practical arithmetic"
really means.
Again, the teacher should gcncr-
ally consult with parents concerning
the study and department. of their
children. Seldom should important
steps be takcr IN discipline without
first trying to secure the o-opcra-
tion of the parents. This effort
alone will often remedy the evil
without any severe measures on the
part Of the teacher, and il will
nearly always strengthen the teacher
for amy severe conflict that may
arise between him and any Of his
pupils. With most parents the
teacher can safely discuss many Of
his plans. How often this will
forcstall opposition and misundcr-
standing.
The teacher should minglc, so far
as he will be welcome and so far as
he considers right, in the social life
of the cOmm,lnity This oftcn 70