Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-14
TIE NEED Or Cooperation

cities, this September month STANDS 10TH
preeminent. Ii marks the gathering OF
clans; and so they come from city ana
country, from MOUNTAIN and seashore,
when the sound Of the schoolbell IS neard
in the land. Not altogether welcome the
summons, especially when the Septem'
sun shines with all, the feryency OF july
and the delightful anticipatinn-or reaii.
zation-of promotion, with Its visions OF
great things to be accomplished In the
next five months, is mingled with deeper
regret for a lost freedom-for the I'M
trammelled vacation days, when teachers
and tasks were not. But little by little the
machinery of schuol-work adjusts itseii
to everyday demands. and novelty merges
into usual routinei And them Then
comes the query, lpuzzling problem TO
the teacher from September until June:
"How may We DO better things-how ac-
auire the magnum bonum for these boys
and girls in our care?" The answer Is
simple: Cooperation of parent and teacher
its solution complicated.
This cooperation involves two.fold
consideration First and foremost, the
interest of the parent in the child's school
work and school life. On this point DR..
NJ. G. Benedict touches fully In his paper
on "Children's Rights" read before the
Pennsylvania State Teachers Association
at Gettysburg: "0ftentimes the parent Is
found unable to tell the grade in which
his child is registered, or perhaps he is
ignorant of the subjects OF study daily
pursued. The parents are too busy and
too indifferent to heed the child,.s studies.
The following instances arc common
A oh ny q mr.
happy, bearing with him some product OF
his hand and brain. He expects approcia-
ton; he deserves praise for his good work.
He is told, GO away; am busy Don't
bother me;' What trash have you there
now?' Or, maybe, the imperfections only
are noted, and the honest pride Of the
ch!id's heart becomes the OCCASION for
banter and ridicule, and perhaps the
priceless treasure is consigned to the
flames because the mother could not
have such truck around Is it any Won
der that such children lose interest? That
school becomes a drudgery? That the
street and the by-way become their rem
devious? And this at time when they
most need parental sympathy, kindly
warning and helping hand"
That such conditions are not un-
known among us in Wilmington
is shown by an incident which came
under the personal observation of one of
our teachers, who in the early spring
overheard two tiny maidens, one Of them
her niece, discussing their weighty little
school affairs. The other was tearing into
bits the arithmetic paper, with its treasure.
trove OF hundred per cent which she had
brought from school, and to the Mortified
remonstrances of her little friend, only
replied, why, my mother doesn't care;
there's no use in bringing it home, she
wouldn't look at it."
Poor child, poor mistaken parent Oh,
careful mothers, whose busy hands never
weary of laboring for your little ones,
who count for naught all hardship, all
toi,, all sacrifice, because OF loves sweet
sakel Oh, anxious fathers, who provide
so willingly for the bodily needs OF your
children, do not withhold the larger, finer
gift of your sympathy in their everyday
affairs. Do not dwarf the real inner life
with its intense. though perhaps unrecog.
nized and unacknowledged craving, by
denying the sustenance which only that
personal sympathy can give. t.tA
Not less essential the second considera.
tion-a friendly relation between parent
and teacher. That this does not exist to
any large extent among us Is matter of
grave regret-that its absence proves a
serious drawback to the Accomplishment
OF highest GOOD in our schoulruoms is an
indisputable certainty. How often is no,
the teacher criticised and blamed by
parents in the presence of children, her
motives misconstrued, her methods con.
demned And the consequence A
natural one: On the part OF pupils a pre,
judice developing rapidly into dislike,
suspicion, resentment, incipient rebellion;
q hostility which considers the teacher a
natural enemy, and all means legal
to thwart her plans, defeat her purpose;
an antagonism which must prove fatal to
all real advancement That teachers are
fallible, like all humanity, that errors
occur in judgment, that patience is often
worn threadbare, that sharp words escape
when provocation is great, this no one
Will attempt to deny. But, inconsistent
mothers, must not you aften cry
"Peccavi" also, 10 the management al
your home affairs? Is your love the less
true and tender because it makes mis-.
takes? Are your motives less sincere
because sometimes wisdom is obscured
Nay, and yet you condemn unheard, on
prima facie evidence, the teacher, who,
my your estimation, has sinned so griey.
ously against your child; condemn her
often from hearsay-from the necessarily
preiudiced and biased accounts ol
children. Should this be SO? One
course alone is open by which to avoid
the friction and the heartburnings which
such hasty unfair Judgment must en-.
gender: nearer acquaintance between
parent aud teacher; these two greatly
responsible factors in the child's life
friendly consultation when difficultis.
arise, courteous explanation when mis-
understandings occur. Such corporation
is not only desirable, it is vital. Yov
remember the beautiful Old Testament
story-Moses on the hilltop, the enemy
encamped below, the victory sure so lonI
as the great leader held up his hand
You know how the WEAKNESS of Iii,
flesh made that strong man waver as thu
/ day advanced, how "Aaron and HUI
stayed up his hands, the one on the on,
side, and the other side"--you remembe
the conclusion of that quaint recital, "Ant
his hands were steady until the goipg dow
of the sum- Little more is told, but ",
realize instinctively the mighty viclor,
which those supported hands called dowI
on lsraeps host. Shall we not--parent
teachers = be together as Aaron an(
Moses-our earnest, willing service up
held by your encouragement and SYM
pathy-our hands made steady BY you
/ strong upliftg If this might be tho Yea
, upon whose threshold we stand woul,
prove to us all, to parents. teachers, an,
pupils, year of victory indeed. A. II,
wilmington, September 9th, 1892 A.
Officers OF Savings Fund.
The managers of the Wilmington Saw
ings Fund Society met Yesterday weelx 4 n,