Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-12-17
Report Of the Parents and
Teachers Union.

school assembly room on tne atter-
neon of December 18th, was one of the
best ever held, beth in point of attend
ance and in the excellence OF the pro-
gram. The first number on the pro-
gram was the singing of several songs
by the pupils Of the Putnam sixth
grade school Mr.. Van Dervoort gave
the opening address, his subject being
"'rhe Cooperation of the Home and
School in Moral Training" His re-
marks were certainly good, sensible
and practical. He suggested that the
parents should iHculate into the
childs mind right conception of the
teachers aim and purpose, and not al
low both himself and his child to be
prejudiced by the opinion of the work
as formed by the chllds Immature
Judgment. His second point was that
both home and school should exercise
greater care in taking note of the hard
work done by the plodders, who,
1hough their measure OF success
may be small, yet they deserve vast
ly more credit than the children of
bright, keen and active minds. The
plodder through discouragement and
lack of appreciation, may be led into
dishonest means for the sake of ap-
pearing well. His third point was that
both the home and the school must
teach by example as we'll as by precept
those things which will give a high
standard of morality to the coming cit
izen. The address was open for dis
cussion, but the usual diffidence con-
trolled the audience Mr.. Williams
finally arose and urged the parents to
visit the schools freely, at any time
without any previus invitation or
warning, observe the teachers and pu-
pills at regular wrk, offer suggestions,
enter into the spirit of the work be-
ing done, or even take part. The
teachers would certainly enjoy visit
of that kind. Another point brought
forward was how far the teacher dar-
ed to go in telling parents the exact
truth about their children as known
by the teacher by personal Observa-
tion. The president asked for a vote
as to how many parents present would
like to have such a statement concern
ing their children. The parents by
M nj irotp - htY,1y
course the proper one. There was
no further discussion Of the address.
Mrs. George Cooke next read an ar
ticle from the November Cosmopolitan
entitled THE Proper Development of
the Child" The article was perhaps a
little extreme in urging the process of
immolatton of the parent but there
were many excellent points which
might well be followed by parents and
others engaged in the training Of
children. The paper formed the foun-
dation of the discussion of the subject
How can parents become the con-
fidants of their children?' The dis
cusslon was opened by Mr.. Roe. He
gave several reasons for the lack of
confidence between parent and child
One was that very few children can be
brought up without more or less dis
cipline, and in the administering of
this necessary discipline, unlntentional
mistakes are made by the parent, and
the relationship between the two be-
comes little strained. He urged that
special care must be exercised when
child comes voluntarily and tells of
some deed, which, in the judgment of
the paren;. needs a severe rebuke or
even farsher discipline. Under
such circumstances it would be better
TO make a note of the wrong and in the
near future in a tactful way show the
deed in its true light. There would
then be less danger of the childs with
holding his confidence the next time.
The points made were excellent for
both parents and teachers, for between
teacher ard pupil as between parent
and child the relationship should be
that of friend and friend.
Mr.. Bird and Mrs. H. G. Chamber
lain added few remarks on the sub
iect, after which Miss Blrnie favored
the Union with the beautiful song,
Bonnie Sweet Bessie, the Maid of
Dundee"
The last number on the program
was paper by Mrs. Nan H. Dye, rep
resenting the w, C. T. u, on the sub
ject, THE Evils of the Cigarette
Habit" Mr.. Williams had prepared
number of questions which he sent
TO the different physicians of the city,
to be answered by them. Without
stating the authors of the various am
swers, he gave us to know that our
physicians believe the habit to be a
perniclous one and detrimental to both
bcdy and mind. Mrs. Dye, in her pa
per quoted several eminent authorities
on the evils of cigarette smoking. All
agreed that the habit when once form
ed was even harder to overmoce than
that of the drink habit and it untitled
the person for work just as much. The
time for adjournment was at hand, so
there was no further discussion of the
subject. Before closing, however, Mr..
Williams reminded the Union that the
constitution requires one of the meet
ings to be a maas meeting addressed
by some outsider of note A motion
was made and carried that the matter
of planning the meeting and selectlnga