The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-11
DUTY OF PARENT s
To- The TEACHERS
THEY SHOULD OFFER THEM
MORE ASSISTANCE.
An Answer to { Justices" Letter OIL
the Relations of Teacher and Pupil
Fathers and Mothers Lack of In
terest in Their Uhildren's School
work the Cause of Much Back.
wardness.''
To the Editor Of The journal.

To the Editor Of The Journal
l.: I am at all times interested in the
question OF education, and all it means to
the child of today. Every child should
at least have public school course.
also believe that it rests with the board
Of education. and DR.. Jordan as to what
course is best to pursue. They are
chosen by the people, and make study
of what is best for the pupil
2. sInS reading the notions of other peo-
pie" the sympathy for the pupil is very
evident, with but very little, If any con-
sideration at all for the teacher: In your
issue Of Feb, one can feel and see the
injustice Of the communication from
> Justice" a.. T.. -,..,ts -~.D.-- . - s..-
Let me ask Justice, and others Of like
notions: DO you visit the schools? Was
. the East Side Valedictoran taught to re-
spect the teacher as she wished to be
respected? Does the backward" know
that the only school social evenings
should be Friday or Saturday, and the
others devoted, to study? s-.
g II the pupil comes home with a griev-
ance, give the teacher the benefit of the
doubt and make it point to go that very
day. and ask the teacher politely and
pleasantly what is the cause. The result
will be- a better feeling on all sides. A
child should know that when it enters the
schoolroom the teacher should be obeyed,
Just as 1T does at home. Respect will win
respect.
The "eackward" Pupils.
1 also believe that the majority of
backward" pupils are those who fool
away their time and when "passins
tim, comes the teacher and the princi-
pals are oesieged with begging epistles"
10 let Jim or John or Sue go on They
are heartbroken because they did not
pass. The mother has probably forgotten
y the request of his teacher during the term
to visit the school, as John was falling
below grade; and the mothers polite note
saying she was too busy. Every mother
should visit her child's school once or
twice a term. .,".t
A teacher has between forty and fifty
pupils but she must have no feelings.
i. The arithmetic Of today has no rules or
explanations for the pupils to commit to
memory. as We did when we were chill
dren. The teacher must explain it all.
AND II Jennie preferred to idle away
that time should the teacher be: made to
takes the blame and stay after school to
drum it into her head3
have never been a teacher, but 7 am
a, mother Of children attending the public
schools The friendship between them
and their teachers is sincere and I do
not expect the teacher to worry over then,
after school hours; she has done her
work, and all parents should find the time
~ SiSe me STUDIES a little attention at
home and by doing so keep in touch with
the methods used.
. Let Us Help the Teacher.
Judging from the school where nv
: children attend, We can be proud of our
teachers. Let us try to help instead of
finding fault with them. When our teach
$ers read such communications as that
written by Justice let them remember
there are. many many mothers who do
not, look upon a teacher as a. machine.
but: will say, GOD bless you for the work
Z you are trying to do to the, best of your
ability tho we do not tell you so pub
licy.s -.
! According to Justice" the East Side
valedlctorian Of 1903 had learned one les
: son. at least. viz, the fifth command
ment.: to "Honor thy father and mother I,
=, Truly, an unspoken tribute to the teacher
=, In Justice to the Teacher.
Minneapolis, Feb. 5.