The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1895-01-04
EDUCATIONAL TOPICS.
~ S EDUCATIONAL Associa-
~ tions ale to be or have been
4 organized in each township

S EDUCATIONAL Associa-
~ tions ale to be or have been
4 4 organized in each township
of the county, through the efforts of the
county superintendent, it may be well
to think of some points to be discussed
at these meetings. Questions pro-
posed should be such as are of mutual
interest to parents and teachers, as
parents and teachers are to constitute
the membership of these associations.
Two such questions will be suggested
in the present article. One is the re-
lation of parents to their, schools"
The discussion of this relation by
teachers and parents cannot fail to
be OF interest to both parties as well
us to the scholars themselves. As the
case at present stands parents take far
too little interest in their schools.
Many of them dc not attend the school
meetings. In most districts these are
conducted by the, school board and
small representation. Every family
at least should be represented there.
II parents would attend more than
they do, they could often avail them
selves of opportunities to contribute
to the success and welfare of the
school. AS it is, a half dozen people
generally transact business for the dis
srict and the remainder stay away eX-
hibiting not the least interest in what
really concerns themselves and their
children, or if they show any it is to
complain of, and find fault with what
others have done.
After school has commenced the
parents should be frequent visitors at
the school. They should not rely upon
reports as to how things are progress
ing there, but should inform them.
selves as to the capabillty and suitable
ness of the teacher, by informal and
repeated visits.
AS the case now stands the parents
are possessed of no more knowledge
of what goes Oil at school than is OBJ
tained from conflicting and interested
reports that they accldently hear
These are generally colored favorably
or unfavorably according to the, ,preju-
dice of the reporter. They form no
| reliable basis for an opinion IN the
matter.
Ii the parents find that the teacher
is nnfathful OF Incompetent or un-
| worthy in anyway, their proper course
is TO do what they can at the next an
nual meeting to prevent said teacher
| from being hired. On the contrary if
they find that the teacher is faithful
and competent, they should attend the
meeting determined to use all their in
| fiuence to have that teacher hired for
another year. Whenever the citizens
Of district are convinced that they
have the best that the market affords
i'll the way of teacher, they should
make every effort to retain that teach
er at the head of their schools. For
the same teacher working continuously
i'll the Same school will improve him
self and the school much faster than
either can be improved when a
change of teachers Is made each term.
Even if you have hot got the hest
the market affords, if there are no
grave objections, no faults which in
the nature of things cannot be amend
ed, keep the same teacher term after
term, and if you have not very good
one you Will find in the end that You
Ike Il much better one than you had
ut first
Bg grave faults 1 mean such as lack
of talent in impartilg knowledge, iD-
ability to govern and want of SYM
pathy for children.
l might enlarge upon the duties
of the parents toward the teacher
personally, but space forbids, and
parents who follow the suggestions
here laid down will see their further
duty without suggestions frcm me.
As this subject has proved too pro-
life in ideas, l shall leave the other
of which thought to future paper.
L should like to hear the thoughts
of parents upon this subject and think
it would be interesting to have an ex-
change of views through the GRAPHIC.
TEACHER.