Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-03-10
NEED OF HOME STUDY ON
!. PART OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
In Paper Read Before the Parent Teachers AS
Sociation, Supt. Stevenson Gives Reasons
Why Pupils Should Study at Home.

ny request we print tue L0AtOWtn8
paper, which was read by Supt. H.
S. Stevenson at the meeting of the
Parent Teachers association on Feb.
28th:
The subject assigned to me for dis
cussion tonight. in my mind is an
important one, especially at the
present time. Not that | feel that
Montpelier is exceptional in this mat
ter, but that that it is important for
every community.
It is expedient that parents and
teachers discuss together this and
many kindred subjects, that the
aims of the school may become the
aims Of the home, and the standards
of the home become the standards of
the school, in so far as they approach
the higher ideals in life.
The past few years have been
golden age for those who wish to ex-
pose something. Papers and jour-
nails have been filled with criticisms
of nearly all phases of the business
and social life. We read of bribery
graft, incompetency, and corruption,
but in nearly all cases the critic has
stopped with the Obstructive criti-
cism. Constructive suggestion, in
very few cases. has had any part in
the matter. The schools have come
in for their share Of this criticism.
No doubt some good has come from
the open discussion that has been en-
gagged in on these subjects.
The profession does not claim per-
lection for the schools. There are
numerous improvements that can be
made. Railroad corporations are
not perfect; telephone and telegraph
companies do not carry on their work
with the greatest efficiency; banks,
post offices and all businesses, even
the governments, will need to inn
prove in order to reach that high
efficiency. Nor are the schools less
efficient than these.
Recently the Ladies Home journal
engaged in an attack upon the pub.
lie schools Of the nation. It is moi
my purpose tonight to answer thii
TRADE, suffice it to say that the argu
ments produced were refuted il
numerous articles or, have refutet
themselves. wish to deal howeve
with one sweeping declaration mad,
by Miss Lynch, the correspondent
that, All homes should rebel agains
the children from the schools carry
ing home their books for hom
study"
Perhaps. if all homes were idea
in that they furnished complete an
appropriate libraries, home employ
ment and other activities which Gu
tivate the higher instincts and deve
op character, the greatest good coul
come from confining the school activ
ties to school hours.
This condition does not exist ar
cannot be attained in the immedia
future. hope you will understar
me in this. / do not believe tn
education is confined TO the school
it is q much bigger and broad
thing. The school is only one fact
in its production. The home, &
church. and the community are vii
factors. One psychologist has sal
The moving picture is greater th
the combined agencies of the scho
home, press and street" This m
be an exaggeration.
Education, in its broad sense,
four fold in its nature. The phy
cal, the mental, the moral and /
spiritual must be considered.
While there are many exceptio
the rule is, "A strong mind g
with strong body" and to hav
RRnll and rounded education we m
add TO these moral and spirit
training. Nor can we neglect 3
believe that parents and teach
viii agree with my statement t
much valuable time is lost by m
uaerganized and undirected aci
ties after school hours. Especi
i this important to upper grs
; . high school, Not that bel
that all activities should be dire,
hy teacher or narent. Chilg