Omaha daily bee., 1922-02-06
Teaching Children 60 s.ud,.

Il
asFins. Nsb, Feb, Ito the
Edltor or The Ress have read
with much Interest the discussions
on school problems In The lee and
other papers and heard some public
lalAs, one phase or the question
las MOI been touched upon, IL is
thls' Years ago pupils generally had
only from three 10 sik months OF
school yearly. II was continually
privilege "going 90 schooi' was, and
and girls attended school Casually
studied, haplored help from every
escape them from occasional speak
sfs, their trips 10 other places. the
visitor IN their home, from the few
magazines and papers they had
access % and from the conversation
or their elders ito whom they were
taught 90 listen respectfully, III
hin Jones failed 10 keep up with
Tom brown OF Ia. same age. he,
himself was blamed. not his teacher.
Nowadays too many children are
eoaxed and bribed 90 attend school.
or at least not taught II is a priv
ilege. but rather a favor 20 their
parents and teachers. They seldom
really study. except a percentage
who are natural born students.
Young people seldom listen 20 the
conversation OF their elders. seldom
attend interesting and instructive
lectures. or do not listen II they do.
and when a child IN not promoted
from his grade 10 the next az the
end Of the year his or her teacher Is
blamed by parents. fond auntie and
grandma and the child himself. Miss
So-and-So shows paftlality." or IA a
poor teacher" or lis lazy" bocaus.
she failed 10 promote Johnnie and
Harry and susy and Sallie. In real
lty. Miss So-and-So may have been
the only good. really conscientious
teacher those children ever had and
knew the great harm being done
them by promoting them each year
To harder and harder work without
tho mastery OF the previous years
work. The keeping them In the old
grade may be the one stimulus
needed TO make them really study.
Too much play in all schools.
IL pupils were taught schooling Is
a great privilege. II parents were not
looked upon as criminals when they |
very necessarily keep a child at homS
for a day now and then. II pupils I
were taught TO study from the very |
beginning by parents and lower |
grade teachers. II the blame for not |
passing were placed where II usually |
belongs-on the pupil and parent
instead OF the teacher. then each |
teacher could handle more pupils 4,
and TO better advantage. and SO |
fewer teachers would be needed.
! am n product OF the old school:
was country schoolma'am for
years and sent sig children through
the grades and high school In town.
I believe In consolidated schools
(where conducted with common
sense): I believe in getting the very
best teachers possible with long and
intensive training. Nothing is too
good for our children. l think the
good teachers are not paid enough
and that a good many poor ones
are paid too much; but / also believe
l great part Of the responsibility for
his education should be placed upon
he child himself and upon the
Gathers as we'll as mother).
and not entirely on the over-worked
teacher, who must spend altogether
90 much time teaching your child
what you yourself should have
aught him, viz, good behavior. re-
,pect for authority and for older
people, good morals, the meaning Of
ife, correct personal habits and a
owe of study, or at least the duty
# studying. One thing more: Taxes
all on too few people. Every head
II family should pay per capita
chool tax and bachelor men and
maids the same after they
re Is years old. Why should
be overtayed to educate
surope's paupers?
MRS. L. STILES.
Gering, Neb.