The Redwood gazette., 1902-04-02
PARENT, PUPIL AND TEACHER.
Prof. "A. j. Jones Has Something to Say
Apout them at the Forum.

Prof. A. j. Jones: principal of the
Redwood Falls schools, read a pa
per on the relation Of parent and
teacher to child, in which he said
that deep down in the heart OF
every father and mother in America
there is planted the secret wish
that their boy will do them honor,
that he will grow up to be a great
man, or one, at least, of whom they
can and will feel proud. The lesson
of the immortal Lincoln is never
forgotten by any true American.
From the humblest born there may
come man who shall redeem his
country. But how? Do these par
ents expect their children to! devel-
op into great men and women OF
themselves without any help from
them? Do they think that great
men are born, not made, and no
matter what they do their children
will be great? No greater fallacy
was ever uttered. In a large sense
great men and women are made. are
developed. Back OF every great
man was noble father or mother.
No. Our boys and girls will be
to a great extent what we make
them; they will have the habits we
love, the dispositions we possess.
"Men do not gather figs of thistles. F"
| Whatever we may say Of some ap-
parent exceptions it is nevertheless
true that the vast majority at men
and women are in a large measure
what they are made by their par.
ents.
1t is often said that when chile
enters school the responsibility O.
! the parent ends and that of the
teacher begins. This is not true
The responsibility of the parent is
for all time; yes, and for all eternity
For the influence exerted by tht
parent over his boy, his girl. will
go echoing down the vistas of TIM
to eternity itself.
1t is not always true that childre1
of good parents turn out we'll, no
is it true that children of bad par
ents always turn out bad, but it i
true. as a general rule, that weak
ness of character or weakness c
body, is the result of weakness il
the parent, either in himself or i
the training Of his children. Th
world is growing. More will b
demanded of his boy than has bee
demanded of himself. To this en-,
he should scrutinize carefully al
that is INTENDED to develop hi
child, and insist that at home, i
the school, on the play ground
such influences shall surround tn
Fl
child as will tend to develop tn
best character A bad book is
poison to the budding moral charao
ter. bad companion constan
menace, and bad teacher shoul
not be tolerated.
The ideal perent will not welcom
the day when his or her child goe
to school, merely as relief fror
care-simply to get him out of tn
way, but will follow him sanxiousl,
and carefully, keeping step wit
his development and endeavorin!
in every way to aid his teacher il
her effort to help him. Many par
ents criticise teachers for falling t.
reach or interest their boy Or girl
when they are untirely unable t.
do either, and often never try to d,
so. Is this fair? Is it right? Ca,
the parent escape his responsible
ity?
Many parents love their childre,
so much that they give the bes
things which they have and thu.
| the children grow up with wrons
ideals, and become selfish and self
icentered men aud women One o
I the greatest faults OF the American
parent is the failure to instill int
the child respect for authority;
regard for the rights of others ane
| a desire to give others the bes
things, instead of keeping them Il
himself. Whatever theories meI
may advance the fact is neverthe
| less patent that children who hav,
not been taught the lesson OF ODE