The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-09-04
THE CHILD AND THE SCHOOL

Sioux City Journal-The opening o
he city schools brings home TO man!
parents the p%erplexing problem o
what to do with the child who doe.
not want to attend. There are sucl
children in every community. Truaa
laws and truant officers have not en-
tirely solved the problem. They have
accomplished superficial, but not fund
ameniai results. They have led the
horse to the watering trough, bu'
have not been able to make him drinF
with relish. superintendent and
teachers have wrestled with the diff
Guilty, but have not reached satisfac'
tory conclusions. The trouble is or
ganic rather than superficial.
Some of the inclinations- of the chill
dren to avoid school is traceable TO
home influence. The spirit OF educa-
ton is not fostered in the home life.
Parents send their children to school
because they must. but they make
such protests against it and show
such little interest In it, that the
children catch the spirit and become
hostile to school attendance. In such
cases the home influence must be
changed and made cooperative with
the schools before the right spirit can
be expected from the children. If par
ents could look into the future and
realize the advantages OF the young
man and woman who are educated
over those who are not, they would
become jealous advocates of punctual
attendance upon the daily sessions,
and the children, catching the inspir-
alton. would enter the classroom with
enthusiasm instead of reluctance. No
parent has the right to endow a hui
man being with life without giving
that human being all the chances
available to meet the obligations of
the life 1t must face, not because Of
it's own choice of existence, but be-
cause of the choice of existence fol
it by its patrons. The responsibility Is
on the parents, not on the child.
Child indifference to punctuality in
attendance at the public schools lies
at the foundation of another evil for
which teachers and school organiZa-
tons are generally held accountable.
The scientific principles of education
which prevail in the modern school
roo and are part of the preparation
of all teachers, provide that such sue
ceeding lesson Is founded on a COM
%prehension on the part OF the pupil OF
that which precedes. IL a pupil is in
different in his attendance. he misses
a portion of this foundation work.
When he returns to his classes they
have passed to another subject, but
because he does not comprehend that
which was studied and mastered in
his absence, he is unable to fall into
line with his classmates, gropes IN
darkenss to comprehend the subject,
Is unable to do so, becomes d%iscour-
aged, loses interest and insists on
quitting school entirely. If the home
influence is neutral towards or hos
tile to school, the pupil drifts out, be-
9 Stacker and unless the truant
law gathers him In, quits entirely. II
he is taken back by force, his mental
is repellent rather than re-
and his education becomes an
enforced water cure. Unless the
child mind reaches out for instruc-
ion, it's development is mechanical
Il he draws back, II is worse than
mechanical. In those school systems
where provisions are made to bridge
he gaps made by irregular attend
lnce, some beneficial results are be-
ne accomplished. But they are de-
,tructiye of ambition, because they
that which should be done
With willingness and from desire.
The press has been guilty of con-
ributing to the spirit Of child hos
ility to school. Cartoonist and para
alike have depicted the aver
ion of the child to school. Instead of
eaving the impression o the child
mind that the opening day Of the
ERIN is an event to which he should
.ok forward with delight, the policy
as been to leave the impression that
e is surrendering all the delights OF
hildhood, all the pleasures Of youth
nd all the joys Of freedom. These !
Iewspaper sentiments mold the child
mind into hostility to school instead
4 into desire for school. When the
'oys and girls are led to believe what !
! true. that the opening day of school
5 one to which they should took for
Fard with impatient pleasure. when
hey are taught that in after years
he members Of the schoolrooms and
heir associations are the sweetest Of
ife; when they understand that the
mental effects which result bring their
happiness Of success, they VIM
ook forward to the opportunities with
ielight instead OF repugnance.
-4W. &. 80