The times., 1897-09-05
THE CHOICE OF A SCHOOL.

In selecting a school the result sought
for is not only excellent educational adj
vantages, though these are undoubtedly
important. Nor should we chiefly dwell
on the latest methods in teaching, tie
variety of appliances, the healthfuI
vironment and the admirable apparatus
which the school may possess. None of
these particulars are TO be forgotten o.
overlooked: but we must remember that
what school does for its pupils is not
primarily 10 give them information, .ut
rather TO aid them in forming character.
And after this il is to tabIish them in a
group or a social order, where they may
make and keep friends OF the best kind
friends whose society viii be eleyatng
apd whose influence over them VIII be
enduring.
Always choose for your son or your
daughter a school in which he or she viii
come under the molding hand of strong
ard noble teacher. The tea cher's pprsonali-
ty is Of the greatest value in the daily
intercourse of the schoolroOm. Not long
ago, III Virginia, q lovely gentlewOman
died. For many years she had pTesideu
over very famous schUol-a school to
which people confidently sent their daugh-
ters, knowning that there they would r.
ceive impressions from a sngularly con
scientI0us and nohIe woman, one who set
her stamp on every girl sent to her for
care and training. And when, some years
since, in a railway accident, the newly
chosen president of Mount Holyoke Col
lege was Killed, there was grief every
where: hut also there was universal tesu-
mony, given by the women whom size had
taught during a long period in famous
seminary, to the lasting character of her
life work. Such WOMEN do not die. They
1--we on il those they have Influenced.
Going to college from good preparatory
school is much better thing for a boy
than going to college from private prepara
tion at home, even granting that theprepara-
ton itself has been equally thorough The
young man who was prepared at one Of
our excellent schools finds in his freshman
year great many comrades, companions
of the lower grades of learning, who carry
on into the higher institution the tradi-
tions of the school which b ad charge of
them in the formative period. And it is
worth much TO usin life tohave friends who
have summered and wiIitered with us
friends dear and true, who knew us before
the world did, and who give us, even as We
in our work or our recreation.
1t is therefore a matter of concern To
parents To know that their children will
find in the school they attend asSocia-
tions which VIII be eievating. and friendly
companionship on the same plane to which
they are accustomed. One should not re
quire tnct the boys and girls among whom,
he places his own shall belong to any
exclusive or specially aristocratic part
of the community; but he has right to LOOK
for good manners, gentle speech and home
training of a high order in the classmates of
his children, unless he is willing TO see his
own ideals trampled underfoot. The parent
seeking school cannot give too much of
cl9se personal attention to the task, for
the whole life of the small being, whose feet
scarcely reach the floor, ma y lie and often
is modified by what he receives IN the
primary school-Harper's BlZar