The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-01-27
Duties Of Parents Toward School.

clearly defined, means that which q
person owes to another; that by which n
person is bound" by any natural moral or
legal obligation to pay. do or perform.
What then is expected 'oi the parents
and what should they naturally, legally,
or morally perform toward" the school?
The first point to be observed is that
parents are expected TO and should CO.
operate with the teacher. Cooperation
between the parents and teacher Is
necessary in order to make success Of
the school or, more specifically speak
ing. of the child.
II parents think the child is not doing
good work at school, they should confer
with the teacher and find out the rea-
son for it, and perhaps great help can
be derived by the consultation. AS for
instance, parents can acquaint the
teacher OF the disposition, faults, etc,
OF the child and he knows better how to
deal with the pupil in tho future. An
observant teacher, though, soon learns
the disposition OF each pupil in the
school room. Parents are more apt to
be deceived in their children than is the
teacher. II is easy to find fault and
children are by no means exempt from
fault-finding, especially when encour-
agement is received at home. Oft
times when child is chastsed or COM
pelled to study in the school ROOM he
will go home and tell OF the cruelty OF
the teacher and complain OF the great
amount Of work imposed on him, and |
have actually known children to sham
illness in order to make their parents
believe that they had to study too hard
in the school room. I wish to state
here that very few people die from
over-study. and the parents would be
surprised to find what great amount
OF physical exercise is taken without
injuring them in the least. But parents
do not always investigate, hence the
the child comes to school with "a note
from the parents, requesting that he
be excused from certain studies. Who
is to blame? Not the child. 1t is not
the natural disposition OF the child to
study, TO thirst for knowledge, no: we
must all cultivate desire for learning
and 1t is the duty OF the parents to
teach the child and constantly Impress
him with the thought that in this age
OF progress that he must study. and
study hard and earnestly, If he wishes
to gain a standing in this intelligent
world.
Passing from this question to the Sec
ond, already stated in reference to the
natural, legal and moral obligations or
duties OF parents to the school. Iwould
say that school visitation ranks first as
one OF the natural obligations OF the
parents. Seeing is believing and II par
ents wish to know for themselves OF the
progress the child is making they must
visit the school. 1t is the only true and
just way of judging of the merit of the
teacher and also OF ascertaining whether
the child is receiving proper training.
Parents then should consider it their
duty to visit the school, be 1t once q
day, once week, once a month, once
every six months; but many. fear, do
not visit the school once in life time.
/ have had parents tell me that the
reason they did not like to visit the
school was that they couldn't make a
speech. To such people or parents I
have sacredly, as we'll as secretly, prom
ised to refrain from asking them to ad-
dress the school. and yet they did not
come. II they have failed In their duty
was to blame, after Offering such a
tempting allurement as that?
Second is the moral obligation of the
parents to the school. "Be what you
appear to be" is a maxim that should be
taught to child from early infancy.
Teach the child to be kind and gener-
Gus to his playmates, respectful to his
Instructor, and to be honest at all
times. Teach the child that 1t is wrong
to tell OF the disagreeble or unpleasant
things that happen in the school room,
that 1t Is wrong to tell Of the faults or
failing Of his playmates; In fact 1t is the
moral and sacred duty Of the parents to
teach the child that right should pre-
vail at home, ut school, abroad.
Third is the legal obligation OF par
snts toward the school. The child
should be taught that 1t is compulsory
duty to conform to the rules Of the
school aud to obey the teacher. A child
should be taught that law and order is
one Of Gods first laws and that there is
no law without order and punctuality.
It'll now, too, one Of the legal obliga-
hous Of perents to zee that their children
attend school, and attend regularly. BY
20 doing the parents will obviate the
necessity Of the enforcement Of the