The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-08

and good results are expected.
| To study there must be diligence,
memory, thought and understanding.
A lift at the right moment may make
or mar student.
Write about helping a child to
study" said a studious girl to me.
People seem to think that, given a
book, and a teacher, and plenty Of
time all a child has to do is to hold
its mouth open and the lesson will
run down. The hope seems to be that
1t will lodge in the brain. If other
mothers would study for a little while
with children there would be higher
marks and happier students. ] enjoy
my Latin hour with you, but when
began, and you were too busy to help
/ felt lost and couldn't see what
wanted to see. i don't think am
more helpless than others. l usually
make fairly good grades, but / didn't
seem to get into the spirit of the thing.
You see l needed you to show me how
to do it. / can think now to some adj
vantage for you have taught me how
to apply what I know to this par
ticular study. enjoy 1t more than
any other now and all because you
have made me understand how to
Think"
Surely that is worth working for!
There are many mothers who haven't
the time, but the fathers might take
a little from the daily paper in the
evening. The child who must study
at home should be taught how to do
it, The teacher with large number
of children on her hands cannot give
the time to the individual that is re-
CURED. So some children graduate by
repeating grades, or grow discouraged
and drop out long before they are
prepared to make their way in the
world with success.
A child that knows the lessons is
fond of going 10 school. If your child
has seemed lstless-if he hates the
old teacher"-find out for yourself
what is the matter. Teachers are but
human. The child that is orderly
clean and studious is sure to seem to
be favorite. 1t is hard on the stupid
ones, but it is as inevitable in school
as it is on a larger scale. Do not scold
child whose grades are low, but see
what you can do to help. Go to the
teacher and try to take her view of
where the fault lies. She will be glad
to help you if you approach her in the
right spirit, but teachers are human
and do not like to be berated, or
''faulted," as the quaint old phrase has
it.
Then study patiently with the child.
If he is careless, do not. lose your
temper. Teach him the value of being
exact Use your ingenuity to rouse
pleasure in his progress and encourage
him by the intelligent interest you
take. 1t will not take many days to
bring his standing up, and then you
can keep it there by a motherly in
lterest and helping word now and
| then.
| Perhaps you do not know all that
he wishes to learn, but It is no longer
nearly SO necessary to know every
thing as it is to know how to look
for the things you want. visit to a
public library will open your eyes to
this particular branch of study. 1t is
an art to know how to search for the
things you desire to know. The many
ramifications and innumerable small
details will surprise you. Go with your
child, and learn and teach.
| A teacher may love to teach, and
yet fall short of the ability to make
practical the knowledge--it is for you
to apply the teaching of books to the
| life about you. Teach a child that
arithmetic has its own language. Make
him see it by showing examples. Make
him measure the yard and floo~s
| Give him a real tangible reason for
some of the thingfs he learns and he
will be better student. If your child
fails it may not be your fault, but you
will be to blame If you do not try to
understand and help him to study.