The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-11-15

parent is supposed to furnish the chill
dren and the teacher has been sup
posed to educate them. The parents
have not as rule, even been consci-
in the solution of a most diff1cult
problem. Haven't they built school
houses and hired teachers whose duty
it is to see that the children of the
community are educated?
First Years Important.
mo greater error has ever been
made that this conclusion implies, and
it is just here that this Parent Teach
ers movement has it's reason for be-
ing. 1t is now generally conceded that
| the first six years OF a child's life are
| the all important years in it's educa-
tional career. 1t is at this time that
many of it's most lasting prejudiCes,
/ impressions, and attitudes are formed
| Yet this is the time when the child
| spends ten-tenths Of its time in charge
I of the parent. Then during the school
years the teacher has charge of the
| child for the pitiable small period Of
| from five and one-half to six hours
per day and this for only five days out
tof seven. and for nine months out of
each twelve
1T IS the home that determines
what food the child shall eat, how
much it shall sleep, and the condi
| tions under which this sleep shall be
taken, the sanitary conditions under
which it shall live for the greater
part of its young life, how it shall
spend it's leisure hours. what habits
| of work or idlcness it shall acquire,
whether it's religious nature shall be
| developed or retarded In short, 1t is
very largely in the home that the
childs whole outlook on life is deter
mined.
Not A Silent Partner. y
liCh tr hot
| the parent can be a silent partner in
| this great business of the education Of
the growing generation Of children,
and that the teacher need be the only
expert in dealing with this reach
| ing and gigantic problem. 1t is time
that the parents be awakened to a
true sense of their responsibility, and
that both parties to this partnership
be equally conscious of their duties,
responsibilities and privileges
| DR.. Acher in the course of his ad-
dress. paid a high tribute to. the work
that is being accomplished in this
connection by the National Commits
sion of Education and said that it Is
to be hoped that very, soon now the
national government will appropriate
sufficient funds to enable the bureau
of education to send experts over the
country to teach parents how to rear
children somewhat in the same way
that the national department of agri-
culture now sends out experts to
teach farmers how to raise thorough
bred hogs, cattle, sheep and horses.
In the meantime much can be done
\ in each state to accomplish this same
purpose by the organization of Parent
Teachers associations. BY wise and
tactful guidance and direction this or
ganiZation should aim to arouse the
whole community to a full realization
of it's duties and responsibilities to the
growing generation. Each community
must be made to feel keenly that the
rearing of children is q community
home can solve alone, or even that
each home and the school can solve.
Things to Accomplish.
Some of the things which should
be accomplished by the local organi-
zation and which have already been
accomplished in many cases are the
following:
81. To awaken a spirit of CO.
operation between parent and teacher
Y. To secure a library suitable for
children.
"3. To raise money for the equip-
ment Of a school kitchen, play ground
gymnasium, etc.
4. TO secure and establish a kin
dergarten.
IS. To purchase victrola and rec.
ords.
"6. To inaugurate medical inspec.
tion of school children.
II. To establish school savings
n banks.
"s. To improve sanitary condition.
4 of the school.
80. To distribute bulletins on Child
4 Welfare to the young mothers of tn,
community"