Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1900-08-01
Our Schools.

gagged, and the united and unqualified
support OF patrons and friends is fully
anticipated. The course OF study, in
the advanced department., as will be
observed, has been materially extended
and now embraces most OF the high
school branches, and some in addition
thereto. This enlargement has been
done, not only to promote our general
educational interests, but to satisfy
the wishes of those who desire to
possess II higher standard OF education.
Every facility possible will be extended
to place our schools the peer OF the
best in the state, and all that is now
required to make them pronounced
success, is the support and cordial CO.
operation OF our citizens.
1t has been said, Gas is the teacher,
SO is the school," But greater truism
is,"As are the patrons, so is the school,"
The handspring of success lies here.
No teacher can be eminently success
full in his or her work, whatever their
qualifications, who has not the earnest
and undivided support OF the people.
By this support is not meant II pas
sive indifference, but live, active
sympathy in everything which tends
to the upbuilding OF the school.
There should be generous interest
and a unity Of ambition to achieve
beneficial results There is an invig-
Grating atmosphere pervading the
precincts ofan appreciative education
al community that presages success.
The pupils imbibe it around the fire.
side, and carry its tonic influences
with them into the school room, and
the teachers are stimulated by it to
greater and higher exertions.
As rule, parents manifest too little
concern about the school and in the
correct training OF their children.
Many know absolutely nothing of the
real progress made; little OF the nature
and Importance OF the school course
and the necessity Of its strict con-
formity. They cannot see why child
should not study what it pleases, OBJ
livious of the fact that il this course
were pursued, their children would be
very imperfectly educated. and the
utility Of the tchool wholly destroyed.
Children are chiefly prompted by likes
and dislikes, and not one in fifty is
capable OF choosing or would choose
that course OF which would be for his
or her best future welfare. Every
conscientious parent must realize this.
There is another important factor
in the progress of a school which is too
often overlooked, and that is punctu.
ality; tile greatest essential OF success
full work in n school is regular and
prompt attendance. A school must
fail of its true mission without it, and
the occasional attendant can receive
but little, il any substantial benefit.
1t certainly needs no argument to
prove this. The only strange thing
about it is, that some parents will per-
nit their children to be tardy and ir-
regular, and then often blame the
teacher for inefiiciency because aver
age advancement Is not made. There
are cases where hardness and irregu-
larities are unavoidable OF course, but
II very large per cent of non attendance
in our public schools is unnecessary,
and attributable to the leniency and
over indulgence OF the parents.
The great injury involved in this
widespread error does not only effect
the character Of the schools the irres-
ular pupil is the greatest sufferer; he
not only looses interest in his work,
and becomes too frequently laggard,
but forms thereby habits OF idleness
and Of questionable department, that
go with him through lite. Parents
should see to it that their children
enter school at the beginning Of the
term with fixed resolution to con-
form 10 every just requirement and
make the most OF every hour, day and
week possible. Permit no lettering or
semi-attendance for trivial reasons,
but cooperate with teachers and
school officers in enforcing all neces-
sary requirements for a successful
session. Pupils are undeveloped citi-
zens Of the future, and are generally
fair opponents OF home influences. If
correct principles have been inculcated
they are ambitious and desire to sue
coed in school, each one wishes to rank
as high as possible in his or her class
and this is praiseworthy sentiment
and, properly guarded, should be earn
estly encouraged, they should feel
local pride in their school, should
enter into the spirit Of help making
.