The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-09
Mastery Discussion Of The Relation Of
Parents TO Schools.
ADDRESSING THE SUPERINTENDENTS.
MI. ID. L. Puiliam, of Manchester, Enlighi-
ened tho Recent Confcrcnce-How
Parents Can Aid the Teachers in the
Education of Their Pupils,


as follows.
air President and Gentlemen OF the Con-
ference:
Outlines The practical treatment OF a
Subject especially 90 q grcat and import
sng subject. Is deemed ,riic and common
place by the hsarcr. because plain truths
Afo plainly told. and the slltOr of fancy
ANA thc mere l2mp ol words are made
snoScr,tCnt 90 tnc rfeatrts> OF the theme.
Tor tht sake az size Enforcement oI the
tsuth ana toe demons iration OF the oc-
tual and uselul Consequently. when We
discuss practical vital subject. ia or
der to simplify 1nt to impress its import
aud cnect tac only adequate way in
which Co tr'tt DO ie to seek for the naked
truth beneath ere confusing mass OF the
false the conventional. and the Fictitious
that ouscufts OF hides It's beauty and
power. for truth is ever simple and lovely.
and needs bat iis clear presentation 10
Win the heart and the mind.
4 PRACTICAL QUESTION.
We have I'm the question assigned for
consideration an cminently practical one.
and one whose solution lies at the very
foundation Of success and efficiency n
teaching. aud the administration of the
schools. For parents. and all persons
standing ln loco PARENTS exert as much.
III not moro. influence and control over the
reaching and disciplning OF pupils and
their practical ana real education rs the
xteachcrs and the school authorities. and
tin the actual management of the schools
eihc duties. responsibilities. and authority
Nf the instructors ana parents become il-
Ultimately merged and blended and 10 OBJ
tain the best and largest practical results
must DC tremendously and theoretically
kcNerciscd 10y all concerned. the teacher
Wand the school authorities in the spheres
VI their duties. dictated by reason and
common sense. ana defined by the law and
school regulations. and the parents within
tho scope of their duties marked out and
affirmed by the sanctions Of nature. NOR
ais. affection. parental authority. and
The rules. rights. and limitations prescrib-
cd ly the school laws Thus the par
Cnt becomes recognized power in the
school system. ana one OF the most i'm
portant persOnages I'm the trinity Of the
school-room-pupi parent. and teacher
and his relation 10 the public schools, In
fact TO all schools. from the highest TO
the lOwcst-frOm the kindergarten TO the
university-is essentially practical and en-
during. and always affects the schools
for good or evil. as the parent is guided
and inspired by intelligence. prudence,
and reason. or by ignorance, anger, and
prejudice
HOW TO ATTAIN EXCELLENCE.
The highest excellence and usefulness
OF the schools can only be attained by
ana through his wise and lawful help
and cooperation. while the usefulness
and benefits of the school system can be
UNNECESSARILY injured. harassed. and even
destroyed by the fippant. ungenerous.
and intolcrant criticism and opposition
Of the illitcratc Indifferent or vicious
parent. The union of the home and the
schools. and all the advantages of sucn
union can only DC brought about by the
parent. and the recognition and practical
operation of thus blending the home-life
and the sChoOl-lfe. by parent and teach
CT. should be the great aim and end OF
all entrusted with school management;
for. when accomplished. the homes and
the schools of the people would be
'Proportioned like the columns TO the
temple,
Giving and taking strength reciprocal
And making firm the whole with grace
and beauty;
So that no part could be removed without
Impingcmcnt of the general symmetry.
The home rs the soul of n nation. From
It's domain spring all the good and all
the evil that bless or curse State. ON
its life all civic life is founded From its
virtues and eNcellences all civic virtues
and excellences draw their nourishment
ana inspiration. From its corruption. IL
ltcracy and debasement, flow all popular
ignorance, degradation, and crime. II is
the great and copious source of national
life and greatness, and through all vcis-
STUDIES Of mans existence It's influences
and conditions color and control his So
THE SEAT OF PATRIOTISM.
The home is the seat and nursery Of
patriotism: and patriotism Is to a nation
what the love of life and honor is TO
individuals. There We find the lOfticst in
centivcs TO all strength and excellence IN
citizenship. and an that true citizenship
imports ana embraces. The love OF coun-
try. the pride OF nationality; the affection
OF child for parent. ana OF parent for
child: the love of location and of the
spot that home has immOrtahzed In heart
and memory the development OF the FAC
ulties OF the human mind. the cultiva-
ton Of learning. the diffusion OF the
fraces. the manners, and the amenities or
Society, the benenccnce OF charity, the
untiring and infinite reach OF intellectual
research and science art. and invention;
the inspirations OF literature, poetry, anu
music; the imbuement of courage ana
NalOr: and the incubation or the hoiy
principles and sanctions OF honor ana re-
ligiOn: and all the various and unmeas-
ured faculties and functions of mind ana
soul deed. and achievement, thought,
and expression that give color ana po-
tency TO the efforts, the aVOcdlluna, the
pleasures. the experiences, ana the ac-
cOmplishments of men. IN society, IN Dusl-
ness in government. and IN the chHrch.
The erection and adOrnmcnt or chdIdc-
Ter and good citizenship are the main
aims and objects Of popular lnaiucuoh'
because all that 10 claims ana dtHahua,
a. Ia make "A man "a good citizen-virtu-
Gus. true enlightened, ana vigorous III
mentality and bodily power. Therefore
all these powerful agencies ana lhstIu-
incntalities should be husbaudcd, cult
waited. and employed in building up the
character and the strength OF the PEG,
plc. and to accomplish these ends ana
purposes the home-hic must DC reacneu
and utilized. ga conjunction WIN the m
Iuenccs and the instrumentalities OF the
schools.
MUST BE RESTRAINED.
Undirected. unrestrained. or misdirect-
cd these mighty agents and instruments
Tor good Tor Cno promotion OF CIVILIZATION,
Tor the honor, strength, ana usefulness OF
citizenship are perverted and corrupted
and the very source of all popular virtue
and power is yitiated or destroyed.
Like the waters OF The Nile which bring
fertility and refreshing strength 10 thou
sands OF fields ana gardens that fructliy
and bloom beneath their enrichment,
when directed and controlled IN channels
and canals. builded and guarded by the
Industry and Wutchfulness OF men, The
influences OF the homes OF tho people
bring morality, greatness, Nno sphhua
strength. vet the influence becoming cor
rupt and poisonous. as its great waters
fostering beneath the burning rays OF the
~5n. teen with pestilence and death.
1-hcse influences. which are among. n
mot the most powerful and enduring on
the lives ana the character Of men, must
he controlled and directed Their control
and direction are among the primary and
chicfest objects OF popular instruction.
Their power and enlightened guidance
are the fruitful source OF good citizeu-
shin the moral elevation OF the peO-
pie the advance and deHusion OF clviliza-
ton and che establishment or national
grandeur.
TO SERVE FOR THEIR GOOD.