The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-09-10
PRIMARY NEEDS REFORM
JOHN J. McMAHAN URGES LEGAL
REQUIREMENT OF SCHOOL
Attendance to Meet Exceptional Cas-
es and Insure Disciplinary Con-
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Editor of The Times and Democrat:
Children with school-going COM
panions will want to go to school
1t is natural to initiate. This is mo-
tive by suggestion-one Of the most
poten influences in life. Thus it Is
quite easy to send children to school
if it is the custom of the neighbor-
hood to do so, but it is difficult in a
community that has not this custom.
The development of such custom is
much to be desired, and may require
the aid of law.
Resisting Needed Discipline.
But there are times when children.
even though they started to school
with eagerness. will drop out or lag
unless kept to the tasks by the COM
nulsion Of the parents backing up the
teacher. At such a period Of strain,
f the parent undermines the in
fuence- of the teacher. or encourages
the child to give trouble or stop off,
it may prove the fatal turning point
in the career of the child. Whether or
not thus ruinous to the child, the
contagious example and demoraliz-
ing influence will disturb the work Of
the other children, and will retard
the growth of that community senti-
ment necessary for the establishment
If the naeded community attitude to-
ward supporting the school and the
teacher and making the fullest use of
both.
Exceptional Cases.
Here is the need for the exercise OF
the authority of the State to protect
the school which it owns and pays
for. and to control the parent who is
excentional in harsh disregard of the
child's interests or is exceptional in
weak surrender t. the self-will o. the
aycentionally rebellious child The
States authority is to correct the
wrong attitude of the ignorant or
heartless parent and prevent the de-
nial Of the child's right to use the
shool facilities offered by the STAGE
or the States authority is to stitfen
the backbone Of the weak naTent
heln1ess against A spoiled and dis
obedient child Thus in iteher case
the State comes in merely to snnnlv
the deficiency Of the needed narent
authority. which apnears only i: ey-
cantional cases. All law is for ay-
centional cases-to make them c+i''
more evcentional hv adding motives
the normal and customary.
To Steady Parents Judgment.
tendance will have far-reaching he-
nnfirial moral effect as the crvsta''-
ization Of public oninion and the
final settlement of wavering indiv!-
dua! views bv the sovereign decree.
"Thns saith the law" This will tend
to straiehten and steady the iudg-
ment and motive Of narent incl1n-
ed to let the child stav at home for
fimsv. fancied OF otherwise false
reasons. The child may be put to
work too vonng. when not really nee
essarv for the sunnort Of the family.
Or the parent may Just care nothing
for the Embellishments it no rights
and give it no thought. and therefore
without reason keep the child loaf
ine at home. In similar Indifference
without nrofessed hostility. the par
er+ indefinitely delays starting the
child to school. unon sundry preteXts
snch as waiting for shoes. and new
clothes. or books. or waiting till the
weather is better, or till the child
gets over its cold. etc. In such cases
the child may never learn to read,
if without associates to stir
the ambition TO attend school despite
parental indifference.
Dropping Ont Of School.
Let US emphasize the fact that the
child seldom attends school without
parental compulsion. and every year
manv drop BY the way. Even after
the habit should have been acquired
bv wears Of attendance. pressure is
still needed and when eXerted usually
has good effect. Many a boy does
well at the high school. though he
would have stonped before entering
# if allowed to have his way. Sim
lary a. boy frequently starts to col i
Ieee against bis will. and would stop |
zach year. but for narental influence. |
Nowadays it. is often persuasion of !!
entreaty rather than control. as par
ants in easy circumstances have so
generally ceased to command. Never