Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-01-26
A Duty the Public Owes
(Randolph Herald and News

14oI0I0 anu 4NO"Sl
Principal Watson of the Newport
high school never spoke truer words
than when he said, "You can't pour
education into a boy as water from
pitcher; there must be coopeation on
that the lack of interest by parents
was . very sore need in solving oduca-
tional problems. When fathers will
spend one or two nights week at
their club or lodge, and mothers will
attend bridge and tea parties sever
al times month, but neither take in :
terest enough to attend a school meet
ing once year or visit their schools,
there can be no real remedy for edu-
cational problems. Barton 10 litor
The contemporary endorsement.
of the views expressed by the New
port high choOl principal is entirely
merited. The chief trouble with pres
ent day education is not with the
quality offered, whatever it may be,
but with the attitude at the receiving
end. No matter what the system, no
matter what the opportunities, re-
suits will continue to be unsatisfac-
tory just so long as indifference rules
with regard to making the most OF
these opportunities. The current
weakens at the point of contact be-
tween teacher and pupil; between the
school and the public.
Is there on the part of the people
the intense eagerness for the acquire
ment of an education that there
should be? Do parents, do pupils
approach the matter in the right
spirit? Have they the keen appre-
citation of the advantages open to
them that they should have? Or is
it true that from long association they
have come to regard these opportuni-
| ties as tasks to be GENEROUSLY perform
ed, instead Of blessings to be enjoy
ed?
AS the outgrowth of centuries, the
| people of this country have a free
| public system, supported by general
taxa tion-the highest form of social
ism thus far evolved The well-to-do,
though they may be childless and
without pupils Of their own to send,
have to bear their full share of the
burden in. order that the children of
advantages as those of the rich, IN
pursuance of the theory that the state
owes an equal duty to al in the in
terest of future good citizenship. I'm
der such conditions, however, it seems
difficult to convey to the young es
pecially, a realization of the obliga-
ton that rests upon them to make
the utmost of these opportunities,
How seldom do parents undertake to
impress this upon their children.
The average child regards the
school period as a thralldom from
which he longs to escape. The hap
piest day in his year is the last day
of school. He looks ahead to ulti-
mate release by graduation or other
wise as Jail prisoner does to the
completion of his term. He is con-
sciousness of the requirement upon
him to attend, and thus bar upon his
complete freedom of action in the
matter gals him. He seldom compre-
bends the significance of it to him
self, and too seldom the parent take
occasion to point it out to the boy OF
girl. A frequent reference in tn
home to the value of public educatio.
would have its effect in the propel
awakening of the child. Parents ara
exceedingly remiss in this respect.
Few parents are so closely applied
to their tasks that they cannot, il
they plan for it and make the eff
fort, visit the schools several time
a year, see for themselves what is be
ing done for their children and become
intelligent instead of ignorant critics
They certainly find time for recrea
ton and amusments. 1t is a lack
real interest on their part that kear
them away. A farmer finds time {
see how his cattle turned out in the