The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-10-14
Bruce Craven in Charlotte Observer.

Once upon time a little girl was
in ecstacies over a dog and pony |
show she had just seen, and the fond
mother thought the occasion appro-
pirate for the impressing OF great !
moral lesson. So she said to the
child: "If poor dumb brute like a
pony or q dog can do such smart |
things, just think what a girl like
you ought to do" The child pom
dered on this for q moment and then |
answered, "Well, mama, / reckon
would be as smart if / had been ]
trained as WELL"
l had just related this old anecdote
one day when a father OF nine chill
dren intimated that it was presum-
tious in me to be giving advice about
training children. i asked him II his
nine were better or worse than when
they frat came under his charge. and
he said he supposed they were little
worse; and | then told him that
while he had charge of nine, had
charge OF 900; that l had studied
them and profited by experience while
he had not; that the average child
who came under my care was better
when he left it, while he acknowledged
that his were worse; that all people
assisted him in exercising his author
ity, while 1900 parents and $500
brothers and sisters were working
against me more or less; that l bad
charge of the children five hours and
their parents and the streets had
them 10; and that finally a school
teachers life was OF few days and full
OF trouble.
The gentleman was prevailed upon
to admit that / was at least entitled
to my opinion as we'll as he was to
his; whereupon l set down the fol-
lowing observations in the nature OF
An open letter to parents on the oc-
casion of the opening OF school:
Never tell any one that your child
is not bad but just full OF mischief.
The only difference between mischief
and meanness is that one is your
child and the other is your neighbor's.
Never brag about the truthfulness
of your boy. l once walked up sud-
denly to q boy smoking a cigarette
and he clinched the thing in his
| closed fist and looked me square in
the eyes and declared without blink
ing (while the cigarette was burning
a blister in his hand) that he had
never smoked one in his life. The
next morning the father brought the
son to see me, and said in his pres
ence that he knew he was full OF mis-
chief but that one thing he could
count on was that he would never tell
lie
1t is generally true that the chill
dren in school show plainly the char
acter of their parents. know a man
| who is a constant jester to the extent
that no one ever knows whether or
not he means what he says. His boy
has no regard whatever for the truth.
Lack Of reverence for truth in one
generation produces n chronic liar
in the next, as asthma in one may
produce tuberculosis in the next.
/ claim to be pure Democrat in
believing that all men are created
equal and must depend upon them.
selves only for success, but the longer
| teach school the more ] am con.
vinced that there is something in he
redity. Strong arguments are made
against corporal punishment in the
school room, but the strongest OF al
is that it is furnishing the child fol
the sins OF the parents. When you
hear OF a parent trying to shift to
the teacher the responsibility for bis
child's misconduct, you may kno "
that it is the moving Of & guilty con.
science.
Refrain from frightening the child
at home with stories Of what will
happen to him when he starts to
school. This practice is largely re-
sponsible for the spirit Of antago.
nism that often exists between teacher
and pupil. The right thing il to cul
tiyate the spirit OF friendliness by
telling the children that they will be
treated kindly and justly.
Get away from the idea that the
public schools chief duty is to re
lieve you OF u parents . responsibility
1t is true that the greatest thing
school can do is to reform character
but it has very poor chance to dc
it without your aid.
A criminal is presumed innocent
until proven guilty beyond reason
able doubt. Will you not give the
same consideration to the teacher
who is honestly and earnestly trying
to make the most and best Ct tbs
children in her care?
Do not claim to be a friend of th.
school IL You are capable Of allowing
, to go unresistcd an idle rumor al
slander TINT will impair the school,
usefulness.
Visit the school and learn tb
teachers side OF the question, ana
know something OF her burdens anf
; responsibilities.
> Persistently discourage the ciiilt
, from being idle and loafing on th'
, streets and being away from hom
4 any evening OF the school week.
!, Assist the teacher in the effort L
e teach the child to really study IN
= stead OF the. too common practice q
. setting aside a few minutes for care
. less reading of the lessons.
9 Talk to the teacher and And ou
j what she wants you to do and the
o do il. There ID only one teacher an