The record-union., 1898-03-18
Help the Teachers.

Eds. Record Union: While not at
present a resident of Sacramento I am
still deeply interested in the welfare of
her public schools, having taught there
(ncstly in the grammar department. for
many years.
The suggestions made by Professor
Karsner are all good and many of those
ideas are now Dracticed in the schools,
and more reform work can be done if
all the parents will aid the teachers in
that work. With many children little
or no foundation is laid in their early
childhood by parents and upon the
teacher depends their moral as we'll rs
mental education.
Parents are too anxious to advance
their children and some teachers (not
many l am glad to say send a doubtful
pupil on to be a drawback in the higher
grade / should classify according to
the ability of the children.
All the best pupils should form Glass
A of the grade, the next, Glass B. should
consist Of the pupils next in rank and so
on until each teacher has about thirty
pupils. As pupil neglects to do his full
duty in his class send him to the one
Hover, and in this way the bright willing
pupils would not be kept weeks on work
they have grown tired of and their
teacher would not find it necessary to be
preparing extra work 10 keep them busy
while she drummed away with the poor
Cnes.
Much more could be accomplished III
school were no Gisciplining to be done
and the pupil knew the full value OF
time. applica icn to study, perseverance,
prompt and cheerful obedience and pO-
likeness. How pleasant 20 teach a boy
or girl who is ready to do cne good day
work each day. To that pupil home
work is not necessary, but as all pupils
must be treated alike according to the
present system, some home duties must
be assigned Parents forget that a child
practice for hours on half hour music
lesson, and why should he not review
schoolwork as we'll at least one hour
each day.
Homework is g broad term and much
dreaded By many pupils because they
have not given the proper attention in
class to the work when it was explained
or were not prepared fully for the grade
work. They go home with confused
idea of what is required of them. /
should insist upon pupil being honest
with himself and if he understands the
subject thoroughly when he is given
practice work at home he will not need
the number of instructors some families
furnish and peace will reign in the home.
Should he not be able to perform all
the work assigned him let him do as
much as he can and show how far he
does comprehend the subject, and his
tt-iII oil oix him hint nv
which he can finish his task himself.
The average pupil is helped too much
and does not rely upon himself enough.
The mother whose letter in the Rec
ord Union of March Sd, l have read, is
certainly an interested parent and no
doubt a great help to the teacher. A
teacher is paid to teach five hours each
day yet many spend from seven to ten
daily. They have their homework which
consists of correcting papers, preparing
reports. etc, besides giving individual
instruction after school hours, and sell
dom do they even hear Thank you
from the pupils whose minds have been
strengthened by this extra work and
time cheerfully given by the teacher.
Pupils detain their teachers after
school hours because they, the children,
have not behaved properly, or they have
not done the work assigned them at the
proper time satisfactorily, and what a
favor the teacher confers upon them by
remaining. The teachers are fortunate
in having a good Board of Education
and an excellent superintendent and
with the aid of the parents the public
schools will continue to be the pride of
the Capital City. l.. K.
San Francisco, March 10th.