The Dolores star., 1902-08-15

In the first stages of instruction and
development the child's attention can
not be held for longer time than three
or five minutes, depending somewhat
on the temperament and surrounding
conditions. Subsequently an lncre-
ment of time may be added 10 the
length OF time the child's mind can he
held, until, arriving at maturity and
complete development the attention
can he fixed and maintained for many
hours at a time. Not only 50 but the
mind so trained and developed becomes
self,directive and self-reliant and in it's
highest and best phases becomes what
is known as genius, which is really the
power of long continued and persistent,
attention.
In seeking to realize this high ideal
which we have set before us due re-
gard must he paid to the physical!
health. The human body is, III many
respects, like a steam engine. II must
be supplied with proper amount OF
plain. nutritious food, which becomes
the fuel for the generation of power.
To keep and preserve good health cor
rect habits of life must be formed and
maintained.
We thus see that the problem of ed
ucation set before the teacher and par
ent some Of human life, and teachers,
parents and every member rofcommuni
tyshould cooperate together fol the pur-
pose OF making this life rs perfect aud
complete ms possible. Instead of this
cooperation we too frequently see
them working at cross-purposcs with
each other aud but 1.-THE ofthe results
obtained that ought 70 be. Especially
should teGNhers and parents under
stand each other and the problem set
before them. Each should sec the end
from the beginning.
Looking nj the matter in this light,
things which are trihing and unim-
pprtant to the casual observer become
of momentous consequence to the
teacher. One misdirected or careless
step on a dangerous road may lead to
disastrous results. so one slight error
in the training and education of hu-
man being may wreck his entire career.
The teacher, seeing the far-reaching
effects of some apparently tritling thing
a pupil does, tries by whatever logical
means are fitted to the case. to prohit
such course of action. Mayhap the
parent, on the sudden impulse of the
moment, says or does something that
destroys the influence of the teacher
with that pupil. The problem
then becomes teniold more difficult of
solution and the tendency in such eases
will always be to do an irreparable in
jury to the pupil and the disorganiza-
ton of the school. The proper pro-
ceedure in such cases is for the parent
and teacher to have n thorough under
standing with each other concerning
such matters, and work together for
the highest good of the pupil. The
parent should withhold Judgment con-
cerning such matters until the facts are
obtained, and the teacher, if she has
a medicun of sense, will meet the
parent on a plane of common sense and
if errors have been committed or mis-
takes made. try to correct them in u
candid, common-sense way. Since the
future success of the pupil in the school
may depend on some such LITTI.E E
thing as we have mentioned, and since
the only sensible way to get over the
difficulty is for parent and teacher to
work copjointly, we submit that the
relation of parent and teacher should
be one of mutual helpfulness, for the
teacher while performing the duties OF
her office stands IN LOCO PARENTS.
]. w. DENNEY.