The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1919-03-06
PARENT TEACHERS COLUMN

God give us men, time like
this demands
Great hearts, strong minds,
true faith and ready hands"
More than half q century ago an
American poet uttered this prayer
and we OF today might, in all sim
certify, make the same plea, for never
i'm the worlds history has there been
more pressing need for men of
great hearts, strong minds, and
ready hands" Before us lies a per-
iod of reconstruction which must
necessarily be fraught with many diff
ficulties. Perhaps, we may not be
called upon directly to meet these
difficulties, but certain II is that to
the parents and teachers of America
is given the sacred trust of preparing
the men and women OF tomorrow TO
cope with the problems which will
surely be theirs TO solve.
What are we as parents and teach
ers doing In this matter? Are we
installing into the hearts OF our boys
those habits of sincerity, honesty, in
dustry and trustworthiness which will
make them big men and women, fit
90 take into their hands the destiny
Of their country? II not, then we
are failing lamentably I'm our duty
In dealing with boys and girls one
cannot help hut be impressed by
their lack of responsibility. The
majority of them are either wilfully
indifferent or incapable of assuming
responsibility In the simple duties Of
every day life They will go late
TO school, thus missing an important
class. and give as an excuse that they
slept too long of Just coulden't get
10 school on time They will stay
out OF school for no cause at all, APP
pear I'm class the following day with
lesson unprepared and so miss two
days work. often they fail to per-
form an assignment and when taken
to task about Il they complacently
answer. 81 forgot" who Is 10 blame
for this woeful lack OF responsibility?
Assuredly parents must bear at least
an equal share of blame with the
teachers In this matter.
Another noticeable fault among
our youg people. and one greatly to-
be deplored II their tendency TO waste
time, to get along with as little work
and effort as possible. While under
the eyes OF the teacher they work OF
necessity. but that Is as far az their
habit OF Industry carries them Al
great part OF their time out OF school
is spent on the street In idle gossip
or worse. They have not learned 10
"fill the unforgiylng minute with
sixty seconds worth OF distance run
Many OF our great writer's, states
men and men OF affairs have preach
ed the doctrine OF work and no habit
can be more valuable TO our boys and
girls than that OF Industry Not only
ls every mans task his life preserv-
err. Il n also his soul preserver.
Parents. see to II that your boys and
girls have something definite TO do
EACH day. Keep them reasonably
busy. There are very few normal
boys or girls who will do more work |
than IL good for them. Altho he
may think 80 at the time, blessed is |
that boy whom necessity forces 10
make his own way In the world. |
Time TO idle away and too much |
money to spend have ruined many n
boy whose future was bright with
promise.
II we parents and teachers can in
stall into those under our care. habits
OF industry and trustwoTthiness; II
we can give them that "stiffening OF
the Nertebrae which makes them
faithful TO trust, able TO the thing
-' carry message 10 Garcia" then
indeed, we shall have answered
Americas prayer In her hour OF need,