The record-union., 1894-11-30

80 VIZ Study Iuey always say
tHat a good education is the best thing
IN the world.'" He evidently admires
thelr nrmness even in opposition to his
own wishes, for he states II as his convic-
tlon That parents could do great deal
70 alter this state Of things in the future.
Flrst, by telling the boys that no matter
now much they ask, they will never
allow them to quit school to go to work"
lie mentions various things that pupils
ana teachers might do to improve mat
ters, but his firstly" evidently indicates
his belief that his father and mother are
uolng Tor him good work, that others
would do well to observe and initiate.
The physical rebellion of boys active
muscles is alluded to by several. The
following short paper Will give the SUBJ
stance OF what many seem to feel:
"One reason why there are more girls
than boys in the higher grades of school,
Is that boys are OF more restless nature
than girls, and cannot content them
selves with being shut up all day i'll the
schooIroom. They grow much faster
tnan the girls and are physically stronger,
and they are anxious TO be at liberty
where they can exercise their growing
muscles. Then again, some of them be-
long TO poor or large families, and as they
grow older and become stronger they
think it their duty TO help support their
mother and younger brothers and sisters;
perhaps their father is Sickly, or disabled
IN some way, then the call on them is
still greater and harder TO resist.
Then again, there are boys who nat
urally dislike school, but when they are
young they are more under their parents
control. But when they reach the higher
grades they are older, larger and stronger
and they take their wills into their hands.
Schooi life is very irkSome TO healthy,
growing boys. Many OF them have not
had the kind of bringing up necessary
for the training of their minds to tit them
to become respectable men.
still it does not necessarily follow that
a boy leaves because his principles are
bad.
The only way to remedy this is to
keep watchful eye on the poor, and Tor
the parents to exert the right kind oi
judgment IN the training of the minds
and morals of their boys. No matter
now bad a boys principles may be, they
can always be made worse, or can be
made better, according to the influence
into which he is thrown"
The love for some occupation that gives
employment to both hands and brain is
with many boys almost passion. In
this connection some parents ana several
pupils suggest that IL manual training
were introduced 1t would afford keen
enjoyment to large numbers OF boys and
help to tide them over that period of rest
lesSness and discomfort, when they are so
apt to sever their connection with any in
stitutiOn of learning, going forth SO
poorly equipped TO engage in the battle
that even strong men find fierce and
hard.
Many of the parents have kindly re-
sponded TO my request for their opinions.
AS | have before mentioned, some evI-
IDENTIFY think that the higher branches are
well enough for girls who aspire to be
school teachers, but are supremely use
less for boy who is to be business man
or mechanic, although they would not
object to his continuing his studies if he
chose TO do SO. L know that among the
parents OF the boys who never reach our
grade Gf they could be questioned) this
belief would be frequently mentioned. l
have myself heard the idea expressed re-
peatedIy.
Others deplore the existing condition
of affairs, assigning as probable causes
many OF the circumstances already al
luded to.
What can we do about it? 1t is in some
such connection as this that / have an
immense respect tor that much-abused
word practical" Are there any "prac-
tical" suggestions that we can make aud
then apply?
No doubt we can all see, Illuminated
by the clearest rays, just the course to be
pursued by the parents, and with equal
diStinctness will shine out the straight
and narrow path that ought to be tfodden
by the children. In matters which are
the most puzzling with regard to our
own action we seem gifted with marvel
ous clearness Of vision when deternin-
ing the duties of others. | suppose this
popularity proves the existence of the
law Of compensation" or is an applica-
ton OF the old rule Of general average
/ have, however, frequently observed a
circumstance which renders it rather diff
ticult for US to dispose of the question by
deciding upon the proper conduct of pa
rents. Strange as 1t may appear, many
parents have an mpression-almost a
conviction, III fact-that they are fully as
well qualified to Judge of their children's s
needs as We are ourselves! While that
opinion remains unchanged, it will prob
ably be more profitable for us to turn our
energies in some other direction. Be-
sides, except Indirectly, we have few op-
pOrtunltleS OF influencing parents. It is
an almost selt-evident TACT that many
among them need this gospel of educa-
ton preached to them, but l believe that
we are not "called'' to this particular
work. Our field OF labor lies elsewhere.
The children, like the scriptural poor,
we have always with Us. AS | have
shown you, the sentiments of the chill
dren influence the sentiment of the
homes that now shelter them. In few
years those sentiments will be carried
into new homes, and who can see the end
Of each childish opinion that now seems
so unimportant?
Here, 1t seems to me, is the work that
each one OF us can do. | beSeech YOU do
not ''wait until the children are older''
before you begin your efforts. When
that time comes nearly half of the boys
who are now beginning their school life
will be out Of reach OF any aid that we
can render them.
DO you shrug your shoulders, and say
that all this talk about OUR influence
sounds pretty enough at Teachers Insti-
tutes, but that most of it begins and ends
in talk?
a little incident that came under my
observation few weeks ago has taug Int
me lesson not easily forgoLten-has
shown me how uncoDsciously influence
may be exerted, how long it may be Ielt
At that time one OF our city teachers
received q letter from young man who
was once her pupil, and had the privi-
lege OF reading what he wrote. He was
in her class years ago. years enough TO
sec him grow to manhood. and take q
prominent position in the educational
world, he was with her a few months
only, and never gave her cause to imagine
that she had produced upon him any par
ticular Impression whatever.
From her L learn that she was especially
with her work during the
year i'll which this boy was her pupil.
She was young and inexperienced, her
class was hopelessly large. she had never
before taught in that particular grade,
and as a result, she promoted a smaller
proportion OF her pupils than ever before
or since. The boy drlited away from her,
soon left the city, and of his life there
after she knew absolutely nothing.
Now comes this letter, i'll which he
simply and earnestly thanks her for a
large share OF whatever of success he has
attained saving that ihrnunh thesa lnncr