The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-10

ONlNG AeOUSht5 ASAthDn 80 esah-
other Of her interesting articles
on Child Training.
The nemesis of all school chill
dren is the report card. The child
takes 1t home as q rule in fear and
trembling. There is that 20 in
language, the 60 in conduct, and
nothing over 80 on its brazen sur
face.
He knows he's in for it, and yet
all month he has done the best he
could. Well-perhaps he talked
too much, or didn't keep step in
ranks, but then II seems he just
couldn't help 1t. He got SO stiff
and kind of lonely sitting still and
trying to concentrate, that he felt
the need Of company. He Is very
friendly little chap and there's
Pete right behind him, who under
stands him even better than the
teacher.
But still and all he has really
tried. And it just happened that
on the monthly test they asked
all the questions he didn't know.
| Now IL they'd only asked about
nouns instead of verbs and parti-
ciples he would have made about
30 in language. But he can't get
participles through his head, and
those conjunctions that bounce
about SO, and antecedents--why
he'll never get them straight IL he
| lives to be a hundred.
Facing Parents
He keeps his report card hidden
| for two days, then the teacher tells
| him they're all in, signed, but his.
He is to produce 1t next day at
| the latest.
Sa that night he faces the lions.
Dad looks over 1t and says he
| won't sign it. Mother says she's
going to have talk with the
| teacher.
Jimmy takes 1t back and it isn't
signed i" though 1t was something
like that" says the teacher. you
didn't show it to your parents a.
ALL"
YES, did. but Dad said he
wouldn't sign 1t"
I'm not surprised" replies the
teacher. II wouldn't sign ~ my
self. That 60 in conduct tells the
whole story. IL you paid more at
tention and stopped talking to
Pete, you'd hear something once In
while"
81 can't get verbs. don't know
what it's all about" defends jim
my.
What. After all my work and
trouble. | think you'll have to go
back IN a lower grade and do It
all over againi" .
jimmy blanches. "Oh, please,
Miss smith. I'll try. I'll try hard
err than ever. Really will
So he's kept on and the next
month is just about the same, IS
in conduct and 70 in Language.
Trouble Increases
He Is pretty good in arithmetic.
Only In denominate numbers there
is so much multiplying and divid-
ing of big figures that he makes
little mistakes. He tries but some
little demond insists on putting
down a four for a FIVE. And there's
only one right answer. No credit
is given for correct process.
He goes through the year with
that club of report card over his
head.
At finals some way he Is showed
through because 1t looks better on
the schools records to have so
many children pass" He gets
into diagramming now, and those
coniunctions and antecedents and
participles are real enemies.
More trouble to face. more hid
ing of report cards. More lectures.
And all the time he is doing the
best he can. or.almost. No credit
for trying. No sympathy for mis-
takes. No anything.
Is 1t quite fair? Couldn't par
ent spot weak places and try to
help a little at home? Mental con.
fusion cannot be cleared by lee
lures. 1t needs looking into and
correcting. 1t needs sympathetic
help.
A parent needs to analyze a re-
port card and look behind figures.
II we all had to return report cards
Cor everything we do we would
average about so per cent. Let us
have heart where poor Jimmy is
concerned.