Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-08-06

Principal Ham on EdueatIen.
Prin. E. g. Ham spoke at the service
in Bethany, church Sunday evening on
child" and gave many helpful hints to
parents, who often need training %
much as their children. An abstract OF
this excellent address foliows:-
"The question Of child training is
perpetual one. Other great questions
may come and go; may now become inn
portant; may now sink into obscurity.
Not SO with the problem of education.
This is q problem that will be with us as
long as there are children to be educated.
1t is my purpose to speak Of some few
things that may help you as parents and
friends to cooperate with those who in
day school, church and Sunday school are
endeavoring to train the boys and girls Of
our community for useful lives.
The attitude OF our children toward
their work in school must be largely in
fiuenced by the attitude OF the older
members of the family. II you believe
in education, il you express yourself in
that way, if you respect those who are en-
gagged in this work, your child will share
your feelings.
Not all teachers are worthy Of your re-
spect, and yet when you find one that is
not, never unless the case should fully
warrant it, express your disrespect in the
hearing of your children. Not that the
wrong should be passed over in silence,
but young minds easily lose interest in
their work when disrespect and dislike
are introduced into them. II any trouble
arises between pupil and teacher the diff
Guilty may usually be adjusted by the pa
rents going to the teacher quietly and ex-
/ planning matters.
Another suggestion that / would make
is that you cultivate the greatest possible
interest in the progress OF your children.
Encourage them and, il necessary, bring
some pressure to bear upon them. When
the pupil carries his report home his pa
rents should note carefully what it indi-
Gates as to the child's progress in school.
"My boy, won't sign another report
| like that" parent sometimes says, and
have known of several cases when the
pupil has been influenced to do much
better work in this way.
We often bear q successful business
man say, 81 don't want my children to
work as had to-" In such q case as this
there is q real danger. The man perhaps
does not realize that his hard experience
was what fitted him to achieve success,
and that there is great danger in max
ing things SO easy for his children that
when they are thrown upon their own re-
sources they will find themselves unable
to cope with the bard struggle OF every
day life. 1t is Just as much Q part Of the
education of our boys to learn to work on
the farm, in the store, the shop, ETC., a
opportunity may present itself, as tc
study lessons from books in school, and
the more important of the two. The
girl who il learning to cook, sew, make
} beds, wash dishes, sweep, ETC., is learn
ing some of the most important lesson:
any girl can learn.
AS our young people come to the high
} school age one of the greatest problems fol
parent and teacher and minister to crap
pie with is the proper use of time on thu
part of these young people. How Otter
! the temptation presents itself to go to ex
cess in amusement and in social inter
course. The boy who used to spend hii
evenings at home is now perhaps on thu
! street nearly every night. Perhaps he il
! in bad company. Surely this is not th'
path by which he may climb to tina
which is good or grand. Our boys neet
careful guidance and counsel in this re
} gard The home, the school, the churcl
inspire our youth to noble endeavor; tn
street rarely helps boy or girl 10 be bet
ter or more ambitious.
! At this point would plead for a widel
and deeper sympathy with our boys ant
girls in their work and in their play. LIE
the fathers and mothers keep up an inter
est in those things that interest their SON
and daughters. This sympathy and in
} terest make them more susceptible to on
) influence"