The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13
VIEWS OF JOURNAL READERS.



TO the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
OF course the general shortcomings Of parents
is an accepted fact. and the concensvs OF
opinion among respected old bachelor-u ncles and
thoughtful spinster-aunts is that the govern
ment should provide a college for the special
instruction Of those venturesome couples who
assume the responsibility OF populating the
country with future presidents and their wives
at which attendance should be obligatory. II
marriage is a failure. paternity and maternity
is by far a more distressing one. II is tins
that parents should realize the Importance OF
girding a child for the battle OF life FIRST Of all
With mastery over himself. one looks about
and discovers few young parents who have the
common sense TO demand respect and obedience
from their children. then glances over the aged
couples who grieve for the wicked sons who
are merely following the path Of indulgence
into which the good mother first led them. and
wonders at the unreasoning blindness OF par
ents.
But the special grievance OF this letter Is the
failure OF parents 10 hold UP the hands OF the
public school teacher, assuming. of course. that
the latter is OF sufficient wisdom. To bring up
a child is a vast undertaking, and parents can
not be too grateful for assistance. The chiid's
character is formed in the schoolroom. where he
first enters upon the arena OF life and mingles
with his fellows. The three Rs are OF small
import as against habits OF character. The
teacher sees him among forty other Children.
and soon learns his tricks and his manners"
indeed. one who deals with forty various juvonils
natures each year may claim a veteran under
standing Of their ways. What is the knowledge
of one sadly prepossessed mother in comparisonf
Yet IT is the complaint of teachers that they
are handicapped in their great work OF regen-
GRAFTON by doting parentsl How IL IL that
human parents. looking into their own hearts.
have such an inpenetrable faith IN the perfec-
tion Of their uniformed progeny7
Yet so ii is in too many cases. Teachers de-
clare their inability to do their duty by GER
tain children. solely on account OF being de-
feated by their parents. II an unruly boy be
sent home with a note. his mother may take
him to the matinee and feed him with caramels.
II a child is found 10 be untruthful, and the
teacher takes the trouble 10 have a serious talk
with his mother. In the hope OF correcting the
EVIL, the mother refuses 70 credit such an
enormity and even ceases to recognize the
teacher. One mother even takes her spoiled
boy out of school. rather than yield a point in
discipline, and so he goes handicapped through
life, believing. too. that il is due 10 the malice
Of his teacher. Small wonder 1t Is that the
only child" is a dreaded object as he progresses
through the ward schools from sorely hsrassed
teacher TO teacher.
Parents should never listen TO childish tales
which are inimical to the authority of tho
teacher. Every time this is done two evils
result-the influence OF the teacher over that
child is seriously lessenea. and he Is directly
encouraged 10 falsehood. For when he sees
that his adventures are relished. ne will be-
come a very Falstaff in fabricating scenes in
which he was victor and his teacher vanauished-
When parents realize their Indebtedness to
the conscientious public school teacher. and
learn to cooperate with her. 30 that the
guidance at home and that at school do not
conflict. then may they hope to lean upon q
strong stan in their old age.
AN INTERESTED
Indianapolis. March 3.