Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-12-16
Tie Relation of School, Life to
Home Life


paper read before the recent Teach |
ers' Institute in Lexington, and pub
lished under the auspices of the Rock |
bridge Teachers Associations
Herbert said Education Is charact'
er.building," and in this broad sense,
it begins at the birth OF the child, or
better still, as some one else has said,
hundred years before his hirth--and
is carried on for the first six or seven
years Of life in the home.
In we'll regulated household, there
is little tire for the systematic study
of all the various subjects, knowl-
edge OF which is so necessary for the
child OF today, would he be we'll educa-
ted. Hence, our schools. The rela-
ton of home life to school life Is Wit
al one. In tho home the child learns
that he is part of larger whole-tha'
there are others about him, whose
wishes he must respect. Here, he is
the center of a community life, with
father and mother, sisters and broth'
ers-each doing his part for the good
of the whole. When the child becomes
a pupil, at school he is still the center
OF a larger community with teacher in
authority and companions whose
rights, as we'll as his own, must be con-
sidered. The ideal school which Is
most homelike is most like the real
home. for the teacher must not forget
that many of her pupils have no true
home, and 1t is her duty as well as
her privilege, to give them some Idea
OF what home means.
AS 1t is the duty of the parent to in
culcate the lessons of obedience, truth
fulness and all the other virtues, so 1t
is the duty of the teacher to carry on
this work in the daily routine OF the
school room. 1t is essentially the ousl-
ness of the school to develop in sys-
tematic way the activities of the child,
and lessons are learned in the school
room which could never be learned at
home and vice versa.
II this relation then between nome
and school is such a vital one, shoulu
not everything be done to bring the two
forces closer together, so that each
will enlarge and enrich and encourage
the otherY There is great need today
of more active cooperation between
parents and teachers. What are some
of the means by which this may be
brought about9
The old school of the Dast in which
the master boarded around first ln
one OF his patrons homes, then IN an
other, was in some respects good, Ior IL
brought the teacher into close touch
with the home life of his pupils. Il
teacher then, should visit the homes Oh
her pupils, for in this way she VIII
bring about a sympathy that could not
have been felt beiole. Many little puz'
cling questions about Johnnie or ID airy
or jim NAV be solved by cordial ana
friendly visit to their homes. The
teacher should seek the cooperation
of the parents in every possible way.
What wonderful help to the teacher
1t is. to feel that she can count Cd this
mother or that father to uphold her in
her work.
1t also arouses the interest OF the
parent to see some of the good work his
boy or girl has done. Let the children
take home sometimes their best CON-
positions, good drawings, OF arltf metic
papsrs. II practicable, let the chill
dren make surprise for uother or
father Ia the shape of a pretty valen-
tine or Christmas card. All of these
things help.
Then, what Of the parents? Should
they visit the schools? By all means,
YES. Many teacher has been mis-
Judged and criticized by parents, who,
If they only knew the conditions and
could see things through the teachers
eyes for little while, would be only
too glad to aid and not work against
her.
Patrons Days and Parents Meetings
have proven valuable helps along this
line. One or two days should be given
to this each session. Have the pupils
work exhibited and invite the parents
to come in a certain day. Let them
see the regular school work for that day,
with no special preparation on the part
of the teache. for what might be called
pretty lessons" The Parents Meet
ings are little more formal. At these
meetings teachers and parents gather
to discus. the school and the children,
in order to make improve rents where
ever possible. AS teachers then let us
do all In our power to strengthen this
bond between home and school, and |
mav the parent and the teacher ever
work together for the character build
ing OF the child.
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