Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-26
PUBLIC SCHOOL TRAINING.
A Mothers View of 1t.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
have been nightly reader of the COM
plants published Ia your paper about the
present system of teaching in the public
schools. I for one wish to say few words
in praise of the conscientious and palms.
ticking attention which the teachers be-
stow upon the children.
In my family there are six children, rang
iLg in ages from six and a half to thir-
teen years, and attending the second, third
and fifth grades, only the two younger chill
dIen going to the same teacher. l indorse
the statement made by Student" in a
recent issue so far as my knowledge goes.
Neither my children nor those Of my neigh
bors have made any complaint about their
lessons being complicated, difficult, conflict
ing with each other in any way or incom-
prehensible to them.
My children have been taught to refer
20 the dictionary whenever in doubt, and
they consider the use of the dictionary
necessary to their studies. / am a fair
sIeller. but have never yet scorned the
Use of a dictionary, and mentally bless
Noah Webster every time / have to refer
to him. l consider good penmanship far
more necessary than good reading, and I
cannot express praise enough for the pres
emit system. Among my six children there
Is not one poor writer for their ages and
grades.
Every lesson brought home from school
to be exhibited deserves praise, and each
lesson written at home gives Joy to my
heart.
1t taxes me greatly to look over the les
sons and to suggest, assist or advise, be-
cause I am enc of the mothers who do the
baking and mending, the Homework from
garnet to cellar, washing. ironing and max!
trg, too.
was taught by the old method. and /
have heard my mother complain frequently
about home lessons-for we had them-and
7 M will
on complaining until a race of educated
beings Is born into the world who will not
have to be taught.
wish to say also that the complaints
about the lack Of attention to reading are
in my opinion unjust and overdrawn.
I ranked among the best readers ami
poorest writer's in every grade which
attended. I was called upon to read for
the entertainment Of nearly every visitor
who called at the school. I was in all the
entertainments aid recited at all of the ex-
antnations. As consequence I was filed
with conceit and neglected other studies
me in later years.
I have only one daughter, and she racks
my nerves every time she reads to me.
but she brings home the most beautifully
by her teacher for exquisite neatness in all
her written matter. AS the majority of
the school work is written I do not fear
that her other studies will be neglected for
her lessons correct. t I :
She Is not quite ten years old, and
consider her progress toy have been very
satisfactory. as she Is In the fifth grade
It Is as easy for q child to learn under
tie present system. The school life of a
child Ct the present 9eneration is made
more attractive, the sympathy between the
teacher and pupil is closer. and the oppor-
were in my day.
The three RS are MT being neglected SO
far as I can Judge. and the inattention ct
pupils ana parents is the cause Of half the
icok forward to higher intellectual de-
velopment than under the old, and I am
giad to have my childisn enjoying the
God bless the public schools ana tho
prayer OF 4 Mf1,rtyEp .S