Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-09-16
The Parent and the School.

The following article from the Mont
pelier Daily journal is so appropriate at
this time, and so full of good sugges-
tions, that we reproduce it entire, and
commend it to the thoughtful consider
alton of parents and guardians.
With the opening of the schools
parents may ask themselves with profit
whether they are giving proper attention
to the work their children are doing, or
attempting to do, or whether they are
neglecting this plain duty. 1t is to be
feared that large majority, if the qnes-
ton were answered honestly, would be
obliged to plead guilty to the charge Of
neglect. Naturally certain courses of
study must be adapte d and certain rules
laid down.
The suggestion that parents should
take a more active interest in the schools
is not made with The idea that there
should be any interference with the
curriculum or the discipline of the
schools, but rather that there should be
more frequent opportunities to see how
the various subjects are being taught,
what the educational surroundings are,
and thus to get in touch with the at
mosphere of school life.
We believe, and rightly so, that we
have good schools, therefore we take the
child to the proper teacher at the be-
ginning of his school life, and trust that
everything will be all right thereafter.
Possibly we attend some prize speaking
or grammar school graduation exercises,
but more often there are no visits be-
tween the initial one with the little
chap first entering the lowest grade I'M
til he graduates from the High School
This is not as it should be. 1t is true
we are all very busy, but we ought not
to be too busy to share in some measure
the work our children are doing and
to gain an intelligent idea of the pro
gress they are making. We find tins
for the things that appeal toss most
strongly, and the equipment of our chill
dren for their life work ought to be con
sidered of supreme Importance.
Human nature is fallible, and il
would hardly be safe to say that teachers
never make mistakes, never are at fault
but it is true, nevertheless, that in the
misunderstanding that arise between
parent aad teacher, the parent is NOR,
often at fault than the teacher Chill
dren have very vivid imaginations. Il
is very easy for them to persuade them
selves that they have been abused b,
other pupils or by the teacher, whel
they themselves are the chief offenders
and to 60 home with tale of distres
suitably embellished for the occasion
If the parents are of credulous o.
jealous nature, or do not take pains t,
investigate the matter they blame tn,
teacher for harshness, or injustice O
failure properly to protect the little one
entrusted to their care. Perhaps the,
send some verbal request to the teacher
and are indignant because the reques
does not meet with compliance. The,
fail to consider that the fault is thei
own in not sending written request
Small children are not likely to delive
a message accurately and it is not al
ways safe to take such requests at thei
face value.
If parents lend willing ear to storie
of i'll treatment they are likely to &c
plenty of them. These tales ought no
to be ignored, as rule, but they SHOULD
be investigated carefully, starting will
the theory that the teacher is trying /,
do her duty. Boys and girls who neec
restraint at home do not become model
OF department when transferred to TIN
school room, where opportunities TO
mischief are multiplied. A temperate
and courteous statement of suppose,