The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-04-22
The Ignorant Parent.

lContributed.l
Alexander Pore says, ga little learning.
is dangerous this drink deep, or toucr'
not the ETHEREAL spring" He, OF cou's''
did not mean .slittle education is danger
ous' for no one will contend that 1t IS nor I
beneficial, even in homeopathic doses.
think he Had in mind the ignorant parent;
that sclf-sufficient individual with whom the
teacher SO often comes in contact; the one
who imaeines, whatever may be his mental
deficiencies, that he is wholly caPaoie Oh
governing school he who believes De
cause he has, in one sense, exercised a ai-
vine attribute, created being in his own
IMAGE. he is endowed with the knowledge that
only experience can give. He also doubt
less included the superficial person who IS
ever ready to enter into the discussion OF ao-
struse questions of which he knows nothing'
bringing ridicuIe and contempt upon himself
in his vain effort to appear wise. Having
spent much time in admonishing and re-
primanding children, it is no difficult task to
scold those of matured years-parents.
shall not attempt to enumerate any of their
/ sins of omission or commissions; for 1 am APP
palled at the number and magnitude OF them.
the vocation of teaching have convinced
me that large proportion OF the latter are
F.: more in need of instruction regarding their
i obligations as parents, than are the former
concerning their duties pupils. Until
= parents comprehend and practice their du-
ties with wisdom and discretion as patrons
of schools, the efforts of teachers, no mat
ter how intelligently and conscientiously d.
II rccted, will be barren of the best results.
y While am aware that no amount OF lesis-
=, lation can wholly protect society against the
evils resulting from mans ignorance and
depravity, and that the good and the evil
e arc often so closely connected that we can
d not approach the former without meeting
re the latter, yet my trials in the school room
,, have sometimes suggested the thought that
it would be we'll if tribunal could be es-
- tablished to pass upon the mental fitness OF
IL matrimonial aspirants to perform their duties
20 as parents, before issuing license to marry
as Though such law would not abolish, YET
70 it would modify the evils to which 1 refer
. The village politician, would, OF course
oppose law of that kind, as it would cur
ID tail the number of voters, thereby diminisf
to material for his corrupt bartering. 1h'
pc wisdom of exacting such a law is debatabl'
re- question, notwithstanding the idea is foreig'
. to free county like ours, where ever
ignoramus thinks he can teach, though h
. has never been taught, and that he can gov
ITS ern, though he has never learned how t
iLy control himself.
,s+ I have in my avocation met SO niue
~ blighting ignorance, and been retarded
frequently in my efforts to dispcl the darl
lis ness, which has, at times, envelopcd m
de that but for the general diffusion of know
,es edge the world over, and the necessity f.
IRE intelligence mngling with ignora nee,
-, would be disposed to let those who have IL
> the desire to come into the light of INTEL
gencc remain in the darkness of illterac
- In behalf of the latter state it might be salt
liz fewer the cravings, fewer the disappor
a. ments, consequently more contentmcr
- But as one who favors lcveling xb, to leve
-. ing ao7ou, must advocate the diffusion
.. all knowledge of an clevating c'aracte
As motion is a universal law of nature,
,,,, us keepin harmony with it by going ahead
if We do not advance, VIC shall retroSrad
would not dare offer these randc
,.,o thoughts upon the dcrclictcn of parents il
. did not know that you, MIR. Editor, ha
never rocked the cradle. FELIN.