The Winslow mail., 1924-03-21
THE PARENT AND THE TEACHER

This is the second of series OF editorials on
educational problems There are two important factors
in the education of every child and these are the
Darents and the teacher Ii they pull together they
can usually accomplish great DEAL but if they pull
opposite directions the child is the sufferer Most OF
our modern teachers fairly well trained IN their
chosen profession and put their best tnoughG anu
into their work In fact the standard OF the teachers
in Winslow is probably equal to that OF any city In the
country It is superior to most places. everyone OF
our local teachers is a normal college or university
graduate They have been especially trained Tor tne
work they are doing To be sure there may be weak
places It would be miracle if there were not
No teacher, however, can make success OF the
school unless there is the most hearty cooperation on
the part of the parents single word from father
or mother reflectng upon the ability OF the teacher
may injure the child than easily be imagined
AS the first weakness may mention that OF
spelling the child through lack Of discipline in the
home spoiled child is self -wiled and disobecient.
1t does not possess eachabe mind It expects tc be
coaxed petted and flattered There to be a rule
that applied in nearly every home, which was
"Spare the rod and spoil the child This was oveldone
to such an that there has been revolt against
it and we have gone to the other extreme Psychologists
tell that child learns the principles of obedience
before he is six years of age If he does not he
learn later-but there will be trouble ahead for hm
and others The schools as whole probably have as
good discipline the homes. OF course the problem
is infinitely harder when you have hundreds Of children
than when you have two or three Parents should De
able to tell the children what to do and have them do
it without long discussion. To be this all other
things should be governed by the "rue of reason One
of the things that made the German army powerful
was the fact that the soldiers had been trained from
infants up to obey those who had right to give orders
Respect for authority should be ncucated at home and
this should be carried throughout the entire school
course.
The next weakness is careessness or thoughtless-
in training the child Many parents feel that the
teacher is hired to instruct the children and they need
not bother with it. They seldom if visit the school
and many times do not even know the name of the
teacher Under these conditions the parent is apt to
believe any gosspng story that goes around detrimental
to the teacher Worse than this they often make the
mistake of approving of each hearsay criticism in the
presence of the child.
Generally speaking, the parent would do we'll tc
uphold the teacher on every occasion when complaint
is made by the child Them he should carefully nvest
gate conditions and if possible rectify any mistakes
that being made without telling the child anything
about it. If the child hears his father say: "Tha
teacher doesn't know her business he might almost
well take the child out of school Many teachers suffer
through careessness and Indifference of parents ir
matters of this kind
Parents and Citizens of Winslow we have gooc
Schools if you want to make them better give the
teachers and those in authority your full support