Arizona republican., 1898-06-19

of the child, how much greater and more satisfactory would be the results Then too much misunderstanding
 would be avoided between teacher and pupil, and even between teacher and parents.
 1 Too often parents are strangers to | .he teacher and hear only the child's version of school affairs. A child $ | interpretation of school matters may often be a biased and incorrect one,
 owing to the child's immature judg
 ment. So it frequently happens that the school or of the teacher under
 whose care the child spends six hours every day
 | The question then arises, How may parents and teachers co-operate?" Ip
 many of the larger cities there are clubs organized purposely for mothers and teachers to meet and discuss this great problem. But most parents can
 visit the school and observe the teach lers methods. Common interest should at least pave the way for mutual ac- iGuaintance. Then, through this ac- quaintance and friendship they can
 unite in their efforts for the education of the child entrusted to their care.
 The teacher can visit the parents in their homes and soon become familiar with the environments and home in- f1uences, and bring the best influences of the school to bear on the home IT the home influences be not of the best That which will most effecually bring about the cooperation of homo and school is the universal education of parents. Strangely enough many people never realize that it is import ant for parents to be educated, or that any special preparation is necessary to fit one to train child mentally, nor ally, or physically A4A
 To prepare the young for the duties of life is admitted to be the end which parents and teachers have in view. and tine value of things taught and the method of teaching them are now be- ing judged by their fitness for this end
 Though much care is taken to fit peo- pie for society and citizenship, little care is taken to fit them for the more important position they will ultimately have to fill-the position of parents. While it is thought that great prepara- ton is needed for the purpose of gain ing livelihood little preparation is deemed necessary for the bringing up Of children. Thus most parents con- sider they have performed their duty when they have clothed and fed the little ones
 Too often parents do not understand their children. The little ones stand as strangers to their fathers and moth CTS. Then, if any system of training is followed it is liable to be a wrong one, and the result is that the child grows up far from being what it's par ents would have it. If all were edu- cated and trained to perform the full quota of parental duties, much of this would be obviated.
 Until within the past few years child hood has been less understood than anything else. And what is there that should be more fully understood? Sure ly there is no greater work than to di- rect, guide and educate one of these little ones to fit him for complete liv- ing.
 Thus we hold that if all parents were educated and trained so they could un- derstand their children and thus know how they could best direct and educate them, there would be more co-opera- tlon between the nome, and the school, and the results of the combined eff forts of parents and teachers would be far more satisfactory than at present Such a union of forces would bespeak for the race a higher destiny than we have yet conceived.
 CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH PERRY