Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-14
Health H1n : Fashions Womans Work Household Topics
School IN
the Home

Parents who encourage their children
to carry out experiments learned AT
school, and generally to utilize the knowi-
edge gained there at home. are doing a
wise thing. There is on the whole too
great a gulf between home life and
school life.
II IS a constant cry. nowadays. that
the children do not learn anything at
school. After many years OF what is con-
sidered the best education. we find much
TO be desired In the child's equipment
The boy is often a disappointment to his
employer, and the mother is surprised to
find that her daughter knows less than
she knows herself.
One OF the chief reasons for this fail
ure is TO be found in the fact that too
much is attempted during the child
school life. Another reason Is that there
Is little interest of a practical nature
taken In the childs work at home.
The cry. Have you finished your les
sonsY' is often heard: but there the
matter ends. The parents seldom take the
trouble TO ask. What lessons have YOU
to do this EVENING" and the children
do not often volunteer the information.
Very frequently the child Is stopped in
his recital Of the days doings at school
by an impatient request to be quiet
and the telling of the tale IL never COM
pleted.
Those who have had experience in
teaching. know at once when there Is
any interest taken In the ohild's lessons
at home. Such children. though they may
not be quite so bright as others In the
class, always get on more rapidly, and
have a clearer understanding OF their
work. Where a child is naturally gifted
and where at the same time there is an
Intelligent interest taken In his work
In the home his progress Is made very
rapidly indeed.
The child with an unsympathetic home
circle. or an apathetic or unintelligent
one. loses very often the interest that
he would otherwise have in his work. lie
feels that at home II matters little or
nothing how he gets on at school. He
cannot discuss his work with anyone
there, and he cannot get help when It is
wanted, or give information-for this
last is never needed.
We all know that a fact once heard Il
soon forgotten. We know. too, that a
fact heard. and then repeated once or
twice to others. will linger for a long
time in the memory. The child learns
by teaching. and Il we will allow our
children to teach us what they have
learned at school. If we will allow them
to use their knowledge at home. we shall
find that they make much more progress.
and are far happier into the bargain.
Some parents, on the other hand take
II possible, too great an interest in their
children's school life. They ask all the
questions. without waiting to be told
they drive" their offspring TO such an
extent. that jaded and worm the children
can never hope to do themselves OF
their parents credit.
1t is not taking an interest in the
children's work. to command them to
sit hour after hour over their lessons,
and to act the martinez generally. 1t is
not of the least use. from an educational
point of view. to pump child as to what
no has learned each day. The information
must be spontaneous to he worth any,
thing and it will always be forthcoming
with the average child.
Once prove that you are an interested
listener. wanting to learn something,
and your child will certainly take the
opportunity OF instructing you. That yen |
are able. now and again, TO set him |
right on some point will not matter in the |
least. He will still be under the impress
sion that he Is teaching you. and that |
without the slightest danger Of HIS |
developing into a priR.
There are endless opportunities for |
carrying on the work OF the school In
The home. without it's being felt by the
children that they can never get away
from lessons. The boys performing their
experiments in the attic were not under
my compulsion to take their recreation
IN that particular way. They were Just
having good time ana when the visitor
lad been got rid OF, their mother would
DIN them. and be flatteringly interested
Ind impressed. by their performances.