Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-12-01
ADVICE TO PARENTS
Teachers of the City School. Give Rea-
soma for Loose Grading. and Improper
Promotions. Much Slang Among
High School Pupils.

Promotions. Much Slang Among
High School Pupils.
To Parents in Pierre:
Since you do not come to us, and
we cannot go to many of you, we
shall have to resort to the mails to
convey the information which we be-
lieve you should know.
1t has been and is now the policy
of the present administration to pro-
auce the best grade of scholarship
and manhood and womanhood in the
schools of the city. 1t has been very
difficult to secure these results for the
following reasons:
1. Too many pupils do not take
either life or school seriously;
it is all great joke to many of them
and these influence the remainder.
2. A great many live life of ex
element, are out nights, and will not
devote the requisite time to their
work to master the lessons assigned.
The uncurbed desire to loaf is greater
than the desire to learn.
3. The loose grading and improper
promotions dating back into the
years, has left many with very
unsound educational foundation. The
simplest operations in arithmetic are
frequently impossible for upper grade
and even high school pupils The
| 1icl, do q n 4 |,
slang and yulgarisms. Many are
proud rather than ashamed of their
deficiencies.
4. Matters of momentary conse-
quence take first place in the thought
and activity of too many. Day dream
ing with a book before them is com
mon
4 s. The use CT tobacco by scores of
D boys, some of them very young, is
] most serious.
6. The use of slang and frequently
of actual profanity by some girls as
we'll as boys is an increasing menace
+ to general manhood and womanhood.
n Z. A majority of the pupils expect
n teachers or parents to help them with
J. every task that offers the least re.
q sistence; they will not give the time
and energy to master a task. Teach.
ers have many after school until q
late hour TO force the learning OF as
signed lessons, which should be
l. wrought out independ emily to be oil
h,n Il I
e dependent upon others, and they fee
e imposed upon if required to carry
e their load Independently.
= REMEDIES
|. We are not complaining, we ar,
d simply calling attention to som,
It facts. We have no disorder; there il
k no insubordination; conduct il
If reasonably good.
,e 1t is evident that of the sever
n causes of poor work. the first six ar
rt are beyond the reach of the teachers
If and we must call upon the public an,
k parents for degree of attention ant
e co operation, not hereto fore given.
IF We must ask the parents to ac
o upon the following suggestions:
g l. The lack of seriousness, and tn
4 tendency to make a joke of it all
II must reflect upon home condition
rs and parental negligence. There j
too much going to the moving pictur
shows; too much lettering OH tn
street after nightfall. Teachers hav
no control over this. Parents have
Ce or should have.
LII The unparalleled excitemen of th
ai age is leading directly to the break
% down OF seriousness; young peopl
10 must have something social on al
re- most every night; they are living
u fast life; pleasure is the dominant ele
" ment. This all makes study impos
io sible and parents only have authorit
>. to call halt
2. The law says that no child un
der the age of sixteen shall be allowe
O. to buy, receive or use tobacco in an,
v form. Cigarettes are forbidden to al
t. people under twenty one. We woul
te like to know why the adults of Pierr
in tolerate this widespread violation G
e. the law by tobacco dealers, when the
or furnish tobacco TO children coutrar
to law, and why the cigarette law j
allowed TO be trodden under foot?
child has right to protection; il
stead of protection he is being dc
he moralized for the sake of profit
y Teachers are helpless to touch thi
n crime.
ly 8. The use of profanity is unlav
he full, whether by girls or boys an
Ii should be punished. Teachers ca
alxt. .;.o.,