The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-05-10
VA,SAT MAY
Communicated
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


Mr.. Washington Advises co.Operation BE
tween Teachers and Patrons - Good
Advice TO All Who Are Inter.
ested in the Great Cause
of Education.
Office OF Superintendent Public schools
of Caroline
Paige. Va. May s, 1902.
To THE FREE Lance.
When I sat down TO write. il was to
congratulate you on the enlargement.
and thus the Improvement OF your al
ready valuable paper But when come
to think over the matter. | conclude
am about to congratulate the wrong
man, ns the subscriber is the real subject
of congratulation. and to TIM Lance is
awarded thanks and praise for giving
its patrons double the quantity of inter
esting reading for the same price. This
is not the general order of improvements
Usually. when the value ui an article i.
in any way added to. the people pay for
il
Now that you have more space to in
dulge your public spirit ! trust you will
be able To find time to devote some Of il
To the Improvement Of our rural public
schools, 10y eNerting your great influence
toward awakening the people To the i'm
portance of them; and causing To be-
realized the fact that the schools can
never be what they should be- nor do
the work for which they were designed.
until our best people manifest an active
interest in them; that il is impossibl,
for the school officers and teachers to do
their work as il should be done wiz hout.
not only the earnest 60 operation of the
patrons OF the school. but they must
have also the encouragement and sup
port of our people in general. Nothing
will so elevate our schools as the hearty
and earnest support, and active interest
of our best educated and public spirited
people.
Irregular attendance at school il the
chief difficulty we have to overcome.
The pupil who fails to attend regularly.
not only loses the instruction of thedays
he misses, but his general progress Is
most materially hindersd. lie can not
keep up with his class ties, he loses
interest in his studies; he soon becomes
SO discouraged as to lessen his efforts to
obtain what seems almost beyond his
reach; and thus idleness is induced with
all it's innumerable evils Children
dearly love to succeed in all their little
plans and undertakings, and in nothing
is this more true than in their school
work.
As an aid to them, let the parents take
a real interest in the school buiding
/ During vacation see that il is made per
fectly comfortable, and as attractive az
possible. Speak OF it as a place where
there is going to be splendid work done
speak of going to school as n thing to
he proud Of and thankful for Start the
child promptly the first day, and SET
that he has all the needed books, and
encourage him to talk about his studies
and show interest in every lesson.
Visit the school whenever it is possible
To know that their own mother oi
IllutT, vi tDt VI rOiitt vi tlltil
little friends will probably be present
is a great incentive to them to do thei
best. and when the children see and Zee
that they are really improving, anC
learning something, their ambition anC
pride are so immensely gratifed, tha
there is needed no greater stimulus Il
continued eXertiOn.
This close cooperation OF teacher
patrons, and pupils in the school.-an,
let each one speak not Of a school or tn
school, but with loving pride of on
school,-produces a feeling of comrade
ship, an esprit de corps whose elevat
ing influence in the community should b
exceeded only by that of home an'
church; and the teacher. realizing NOR
fully the importance of her noble worl
is inspired with greater zeal and enthu
siasm by the Consciousness that she
mot working alone.
am sure this is n cause worthy {
even the championship OF The FIRE
LANCE. In this. as in all other matters
hope to see THE FREE Lance eOntinu
to be welded in behalf Of the countr
people.
Very truly yours,
JNO. WASH NGTON.