The age-herald., 1899-01-15

love; through the full understanding of Its needs will come an active cooperation be- tween the teachers and the home, for bene- fit to homo and school alike
 Heretofore it has been asked, "What can the school do for the homer? And we would answer, much" But if asked what can the home do for the schools? our answer would be, Much more."
 The question is: How shall we secure con cert of action and cooperation of interest of the parents with teachers?
 It seems that the state law requires in the public schools an attendance daily of six hours, yet in the recent investigation by the national board of education in Wash ington, D. C., it was asserted by all who testified that the average child of 12 years of age became fatigued after only thirty five minutes of continuous study. Yet the children are everywhere in the public schools are compelled to give several hours each day to study, and then hours of ap- plication to study are often given at home.
 If this be true, and we know it Is, Is it not a grave matter requiring the attention of women and mothers to see to what ex- tent such rules are in force where their children attend school.
 Individuality has of necessity to be large ly sunk in school where the teacher often has fifty or sixty eager, restless little ones in her care.
 Well may they complain, or silently feel that they are fighting single-handed and alone, saying, Parents give us no assist ance or sympathy, not even in most in- stances the benefit of casual interest, many knowing nothing of the methods we pur- sue, and In many cases are even ignorant of what the methods are"
 Many keenly feel that parents should have not only interest in the child's welfare but knowledge of the teacher, to whom this in- valuable treasure of uniformed thought is confided.
 It is said that the wife of the Japanese minister in Washington is seen oftener in the school room where her son attends school than any other public place. and ex- presses the grea test surprise that all other parents are not equally interested.
 
 In our public schools women heretofore have had no power and small influence in securing the school board, and on this much depends.
 Neither is the choice of your child s teacher yours; for generally children must attend in their own ward, unless influence is brought to bear to secure the change. This is a paramount reason for women n- teresting themselves in the teachers of their young children, finding all of their best traits and fostering them by judicious praise, and by kindlness eliminating faults shown in the school room, if such ever be done.
 Never until mothers are fully aroused to all needs of humanity can conditions be changed or greatly improved, and nothing will tend to do this more than to have women on our school boards In active CO., operation with our brothers, in time the best can be outwrought for the common good.
 Our local interest bids us look with sincere solicitude upon conditions existing in our state and when we realize that in iliteracy our state ranks among the lowest in Amer ica we should feel the same interest that filed the hearts of those who made the re- ports of our educational affairs, and bend every energy to help them effect the needed changes Much as has been done by our able educators, much yet remains to be done that women only can do. We should bow our heads in contrition as we realize that Alabama is the third from the lowest among illterate states, and more to be re- gretted since so many are native born poor whites hidden away in lonely cottages or isolated mountain hamlets.