The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-02-08
GOOD SCHOOL ADVICE.
Some Things Parents in the Rural Districts May
20 for Public Schools.

~ ~
To the Editor: While in general we
saw our Public Schools are what Tue
teachers make them. Yet there Is mucfl
r1at may bc lone by the parents 10
help make these schools accomplish "hat
they may and should DO.
In the first place the parents Snouid
To co-workers with the teacher.
Some PARENTS think they have lone
4boir whole duty when they send their
children to school.
admit this IS a very important duty.
and one / am sorry to say Is often Ae5-
lectcd. We must, Of course, nave Tue
children in school in order for them to
benefited by the school.
Why are not more Of children III
these schools? Why does such a large
per cent Of the children not attend
hear some say it is because the teach
ers are not what they should be. ad-
nit that often our teachers are not what
tb,y should be. The parents are not re-
sl,onsible for what the educational ana
moral qualifications Of the teacher are
but they have a great deal to do with
making him what he should be as 4
successful teacher and manager OF Il
school.
Why do reports come into this office
stating that such and suc1 school has
only eight or ten pupils. No special OBJ
lection to the teacher, but the people just
simply do not send their children to school.
In such cases | heartily believe there
there is something the matter with the
teacher, but l also believe there is some
thing very much the matter with the
Teople in such Il community.
How we'll do l remember how the
bright-eyed boys and girls scrutinized
my every word and act on the first few
days of the public schools ] taught.
These children had something to say Of
me when they Went home. They had
some opinion formed of the Teacher"
and some I remember thought it was
the greatest thing in the world to have
.'something to tell the teacher"
How often when these first impress
eionS are being made are these tender
minds of what the teacher is, do some
parents make one of the greatest mis-
takes of their lives. Instead Of en-
couraging the good impressions that
have been made by honest effort of the
teacher on the minds of their little
ones we have known of their destroying
these impressions and even poisoning
and prejudicing the minds Of their own
children against the teacher. simply be
cause the parent himself does not lik"
the teacher. or is out of n1ImOr because
his f~avoritc teacher was not elected to
have charge Of the school.
How many precious efforts on the part
of honest. CONSCIENTIOUS teachers have
this way. No teacher can accomplish
what he should with any child unless
he has the respect and confidence of that
child.
| be. YOU parents. to be careful what
YOU say of the teacher, in the presence
of your children. If the teacher is not
doing his duty by your children and the
school, | would not have YOU remain 81
lent on the subject. but see the teacher
personally. II he is honest and what
lc Snould hc, he will thank YOU for it.
and the wrong easily made right.
How much easier and better it is to
do this way than to talk before your
children and destroy their confidence IN
the teacher. and to talk to Your neigh
bors and before your neighbours chill
drcn an destroy their confidence in this
teacher also. \ little thought and prll-
dcncc on the part of parents along this
Enc will go a long way to tighten tho
burdens of the teacher and help to 4
wonderful extent make him what he
should he.
/ will write again and speak of some
other things parents may do for our
public schools.
c.. H. MEBANE,
Supt. Pub. Inst.