The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-12-13
OBJECTS TO PRnsEN rs.
Some Views on the Relations of Pupi
and Teacher.

Some views on the Relations of Pupil
and Teacher.
EDITOR HERALD Nothing is more
foreign TO my wishes than a disposition to
cast any reflection upon the school teachers
of our borough and the admirable work they
are accomplishing The American school
teacher is entitled to equal honor and equal
reward at the hands of the people with any
public servant in the country. Their work
is laborious and conscientious and nothing
contributes more to the success Of the free
school system. And so it is with onr teachers
who are abreast in vigor, usefulness and
faithfulness in public school work with the
teachers Of any other section of the country.
But, Mr. Editor realizing this, and feeling
indebted to them as citizen and individual,
! must take a stand which my conscience
dictates is right To the point, l object to
the school teachers receiving presents from
their pupils as the gifts are now made. This
statement may be broad and may shock some
of my fellow citizens, but if they will bear
with me for few minutes / will try to
explain my position.
of late years it has become the custom Of
pupils in the public schools upon the ap-
proach of Christmas holidays, to urge their
fellow pupils to contribute to a fund in
tended for the purchase Of present for the
teacher. The spirit shown by the pupils is a
commendable one, and speaks well for the
service Of the selfsacri6cing, patient and de-
voted instructor, but it works hardship
unknown to the promoters, of course) upon
many who are equally grateful and willing,
but who are very poor. l was prompted to
make my objections public by case that
came under my notice yesterday A pupil
required 65 cents of its parents to pay its
/ share to fund of the kind / speak Of I
know of my own knowledge that the parents
absolutely needed the money for the neces-
saries of life, but so great was the distress Of
the child when told that the money could
not be spared, the parents eventually con-
( cluded to make the sacrifice and the child
was overjoyed that she, too, was able to show
her appreciation of the teacher.
l hope the ground of my objection is clear.
and the teachers appreciate the stand take.
l do not say that they are cognizaut of the
pupils intentions, or that they encourage
them, yet can hardly see how they can
remain in ignorance, for children are like
women, to plaglarize joke, they can't keep
| secrets, and it is known by nearly all parents
that many teachers are to receive presents
this Christmas and that some of them are to
be expensive, too.
would suggest that the teachers of our
( public schools resolve TO mildly, but firmly,
discourage any such movements among the
pupils in the future. If there be any in the
classes whose parents are able to stand the
expense, let the children Of such people
make presents, but take them to the homes of
the teachers and present them in manner
that will not wrench the hearts of the little
ones who are handicapped by poverty.
This question is similar to one which arose
in connection with the commencement ex-
ercises of the schools. For years it was Gus
tomary for relatives and friends Of the gradu-
ates to present gifts during the exercises.
The custom eventually provoked competition
and in addition to the struggle to see who
would dress the best at the exercises came the
struggle for the most handsome and valuable
presents. Among the first to see the evil that
was being cultivated was Superintendent
Freeman, and he very wisely made rule
that presentations should be withheld until
after the close of the exercises. So, say
stop this competition in the schools. am
sure that when the teachers are assured that
many are made to suffer by it they will
cheerfully cooperate in an effort to stop the
practice