The Owosso times., 1899-12-01
Mothers Meetings or Clubs.

Mothers Meetings or Clubs.
Paper read by Bessie Morrice before the
Local Teachers Association at Shafts
burg)
In this day of clubs what could be
more appropriate than a club for moth.
ers and teachers. Is there any club that
presents broader and more varied field
for study than a mothers or teachers
club, having for its object thebeneft and
study of the child as an individual and
as whole? 1t has truthfully been said
that to educate the child we should first
educate the mother. What better op.
portunity presents or suggests itself for
so doing than through the medium OF
a wide-awake, enthusiastic mothers
club?
Through the work done by a club a
closer bond of sympathy between the
home and school is obtained. And any
means that will accomplish this is, in
deed, desirable. While there is more
unity between them now than in years
past, still there is not as much as we
wish there might be.
Statistics show that there is greater
interest in the educational line at the
present time than ever before. Parents
are realizing more widely the necessity
of having their children educated and
are exerting themselves to provide bet
ter means of education for them.
Less often do we hear the phrase,
"What was good enough for me is good
enough tor my children;" but rather an.
other sentiment prevails-the best is
none too good, therefore we are at.
tempting to have our schools the best,
from the kindergarten to the University.
Through the influence of the mothers
clubs, mother, are learning to under
stand their children better by child
study, not only of their own but of other
children, and to-day mothers visit their
children in the school room and know
what they are doing and can appreciate
the efforts made there by teacher and
pupils.
If more mothers realized how eagerly
their children welcome their coming to
school, l am sure they would come
oftener.
Go and consult with your child s
teacher,it will do you both good. By fre-
quent consultations both teacher and
mother may receive suggestions which
will be beneficial in the treatment of
the young Oft times there are little
peculiarities in child which puzzle the
teacher to understand when a frequent
intercourse with the mother might solve
the difficulty. Heredity and environ
ment have so much to do with develop
ing the child-nature that acquaintance
with his parents and home surroundings
would give the teacher better under
standing of him, thus enabling her to do
more for him.
The good done by mothers meetings
may be far reaching. The child of to.
day makes the stateman of to morrow,
therefore, any good which may be ac-
complished for him influences our ma
tion's future. Through the influence of
mothers and teachers meetings both
are given broader ideas by the study of
the child. Child study may be "fad,"
but even as such who can study it with
out feeling closer bond of sympathy
with the child himself. Fad, you may
call it, but it is good one for the child
as less injustice from Misunderstanding
is done him. Teachers have no infalli-
BILE rules. Mothers understand that
even their own children need different
management on account of different
emperaments.
In mothers meetings at Morrice, two
immediate results were noticed as
directly concerning the school work;
namely, less amount of absence and less
tardiness. The mothers were made to
realize how very essential it is that the
children attend regularly and promptly.
Regularity and promptness are business