The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-02-10
GOOD SCHOOL ADVICE.

some Thing. Parents I'm the Rural Dis.
ricts May Do for Public Schools.
To The EDITOR while in general
We say our Public Schools are what
the teachers make them, yet there is
much that may be q one by the parents
TO help make these schools accomplish
what they may and should do.
In the first place the parents should
be cO-wOrkers With the teacher.
Some parents think they have done
their whole duty when they send
their childen to school.
| admit this ia very important
duty and one | am sorry to say
is often neglected. We must, of
course, have the children in school
n order for them to be benefited by
the school.
Why are not more of our children in
these schools? Why does such q large
per cent. Of the children not attend?
hear some say it is because the teach.
ers are not what they should be. Iad-
NIT that often our teachers are not
what they should be. The parents are
not responsible for the educational
and moral qualifications of the teach
er are, but they have great deal to
do with making him what he should
De dS SUCCESSFUL l6dCIcI dEU man.
aRer of school.
Why do reports come into this office
stating that such and such school has
only eight pupils. No special objec-
ton to the teacher, but the people
Just simply do not send their children
to school.
In such cases heartily believe there
is something the matter with the
teacher, but | also believe there is
something very much the matter with
the people in such community.
How well do [ remember how the
bright-eyed boys and girls scrutinized
my every word and act on the first
few days of the public schools l taught.
These children had something to say
of me when they went home. They had
some opinion formed of the "Teacher,"
and some | remember thought it was
the greatest thing in the world to
have "sOmethiDg to tell the teacher"
How often when these first impress
siOns 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 encOur-
aging the good impressions thai have
been made by honest effort of the
teacher on the minds of their little
ones, we have known of their Destroy
ing those impressions and even pOis-
oning and prejudicing the minds of
| their own children against the teach
err, simply because the parent himself
does not like the teacher, or is out of
humOr because his favorite teacher was
not elected to have charge of the
school.
How many precious efforts on the
part of honest, conscientious teachers
| have been destroyed by thOughtless
parents in this way. No teacher can
accomplish what he should with any
child unless he has the respect and
confidence of that child.
| beg you parents, to be careful what
you say of the teachers in the presence
| of your children. If the teacher is not
doing his duty by your children and
the school, | would not have you re-
main silent on the subject, but see the
teacher personally. If he is honest
and what he should be, 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
neighbOrs and before your neighbours
children and destroy their confidence
in this teacher also. A little thought
and prudence on the part of parents
along this line will go long way to
tighten the burdens of the teacher
and help to wonderful extent tC
make him what he should be.
will write again and speak of some
other things parents may do for oul
public schools.
G. III. MEBANE,
SuD't. Pub. Inst.