The age-herald., 1900-11-25
Mothers Meeting at the High School

Under the auspices of the teachers of the Paul Hayne school, the following pro- gramme was rendered at the mothers meeting yesterday at the high school build ing:
 Incentives" Mrs. A. J. Dexter.
 "Home study" Mrs. Charles H. Reed.
 "Co-operation of Home and School Miss Helen Johnston.
 Influence of School Visiting Mrs J. w Bruce.
 "The Moral Culture of the Child" su- perintendent J. H. Phillips, a-.
 Mrs. A. J. Dexter believed that the three R's were better understood fifty years ago than they are today. She thought. however, that the widening of the scope of the child made up for the loss in intensity She held that incentives to be effective should be graded.
 In reference to school to school correc- tives, Mrs. Dexter said that in the state with which she was best acquainted, cor poral punishment had been abolished; but that after several years experience has been re-enacted as a legal school punish ment.
 Mrs. Dexter's paper on incentives was full of suggestions, which will be of inestimable benefit to the mothers and teachers pres ent. She emphasized the value to the par ents of having before them in the monthly report card the standing not only of the child, but also the average standing of his class. -Bfatsl
 Mrs. Chas. H. Reed followed in talk relative to home study. She believes that
 the first and second years of school life should be free from home study The third, fourth and fifth grade pupils may be ex-
 pected to do from one to one and one-half hours study al home, while the sixth and seventh-year pupils should be expected to have from two to two and one-half hours of home prep ration.
 In the high school this period of study
 should be heightened.
 In this connection Mrs. Reed said that parent should not only see that the study ing was done, but show an interest in the work itself by giving the child the benefit of facts gleaned from good periodicals. She maintained that it is a necessity for the child to receive some such paper as the Youths Companion or St. Nicholas, and articles from these should frequently be taken by the child to school.
 She announced the pedagogical principle which should be acted on by all mothers 'never push the smart child" Miss Helen Johnston, in speaking of CO., | operation of home and school, said First, | in essentials there should be unity; in non- essentials liberty; in all things charity. | Second, the chld's experience in the school room determines whether he shall be leader or a follower. Third, objections 10 part of the course of study thoughtlessly
 made by the parents in the presence of the
 
 dissatisfied with the whole course. Miss Johnston pleaded for suspended
 judgment in this particular.
 Fourth she called attention to the fact that objection is often made to the change
 in methods of instRuctions and discipline
 incident upon a change of teachers Miss
 Johnston enunciated the grand truth that
 freedom here can but result in liberalizing
 tendencies In the child's future
 Fifth, she strongly emphasized cleanh-
 ojx nnnfhAra
 some good hints from personal observation. Sixth she urged that each pupil be pro vided with a wholesome lunch-but not with 5 cents to purchase highly colored candies. Miss Johnston's paper bristled with thoughtful suggestions, which were appreciated by parents and teachers. Under the topic of school visiting Mrs. J. w. Bruce gave those present an admira-
 ble paper based on school experience, for
 Mrs. Bruce is known to all teachers as
 visitor of the school. She began by read
 ing an advertisement for teacher, which
 presented all the unattainable features of
 the school teacher, backed by the unreali- gable expectations of the parents and
 munerated by the pittance of $40 a month. Mrs Bruce holds that the day of farm ing out children to schools is post. That when your child is sent to school, you sen2 not only the child but yourself and your inherited tendencies. No self-respecting parent can afford not to know the teache: of his or her child If a mother has time | to cultivate but one friend a year that | should be the teacher of her child. Leave | the mothers children to the teacher, but the sympathy of living mothers should fol- low the child to the school room. The next feature of the programme was | a discussion of the moral nature of the l child by Superintendent J. H. Phillips He | said too often it Is the object of both the l parent and pupil to seek knowledge, ignor- | ing the moral in culture. All school studies | are moral in their tendency, because every 1 demonstrated fact teaches truthfulness and | begets the desire to do the right. | Dr. Phillips spoke of the growth of the | spirit of cooperation between home and | school in Birmingham, evidenced by the | gratifying attendance upon the mothers | meetings.
 President Samuel Ullman of the Board of
 Education was called upon and responded | in a few forcible remarks. He said, being neither mother nor l teacher, but representing that silent influ- | -1,a kl