Milford chronicle., 1936-09-11
WATCH THEIR HOMEWORK
BY Grace ArchboId

by trace ArCnDOld
Whether or not the parent believes
In homework for grade pupils, If
such work is school requirement.
the child should be helped to adjust
himself to meet It successfully.
I'm so disappointed, Allan" re-
marked Mrs. Butler to her husband
one evening as they looked over
their little sons school report.
1You know, Jack has brains. I did
hope he would rank higher than this.
His marks are shocking. / spoke to
his teacher about il, and she said
that he never seems to have prepar-
ed his homework. Do you think Miss
Roland is really ehicientg The
school is often very ready to blame
the homework when a child has a
poor standing. am inclined to think
1t may be poor teaching. I send him
of so regularly to his studies. OF
course, he is sensitive and easily
discouraged He may lose heart
when a difficulty presents itself"
Il wonder" said her husband
thoughtfully, "if the trouble does not
lie just there. Before we blame the
teacher, how would It be If we watch |
him at his homework? Let us see II |
he is really doing it as be should"
Perhaps you are right. / noticed
that he was fidgeting about a great
deal last night, but concluded he had
finished his work"
The following evening Mrs. Butler
sat where she could watch Jacks
system Of studying.
First, he picked up his arithmetic, 4
and for a time all went we'll. Then
he came to a problem that was evil
IDENTIFY not so easy. He made one or
two attempts at it, froWned and
grumbled and finally tossed the book
aside in favor of his spelling.
This, too, he was quite happy
about for a time He shut his eyes
in concentration and recited the
words. Two words proved to be
stumbling blocks Again and again
he glanced at HIS list and found he !
was making slight mistakes In them.
Instead of mastering them. be put
away his spelling book. Have an
other look at it in the morning. he !
to himself.
Next in order came his geography.
Here he became completely mlddIed !.
over the rivers in Africa and did not
even trouble to trace them on the
map. Never mind, guess I can pull
through. know all about the River :
Nile. The others are too hard TO bo- !,
her with" was his objection. !
Bedtime came and he had finished I
=
Later on Mrs. Butler reported to .
Ter husband -
Just what feared" he said. HE = i,
s like a soldier who quits under I,
re. Directly something hard comes 7, y
long he gives up-a very serious -
ault. We must check II without de- :.
~, or Jack will not amount to very =. =.
luch. was exactly the same way -
I'D hardly day passes that do =.
OF feel thankful to my mother for -
er help. Gently but firmly she in t,' IL
sted on my finishing one subject - -
sfore attempting another. She -
ught me first that II was unmanly 9e
shirk the hard tasks. - -
"She did not scold Lessons were ~ ~
1e a wonderful game. In those
lys was very fond OF stories about 81,
ants. She made us Of this and con- ~,
rted a puzzling problem into a r., ~,
ant to be overthrown. I shall new bis
forget my Joy when accomplish -,
something had been tempted TO No
? aside. I had conquered q giant 81
day II am inclined to follow the ~, S
g Of least resistance and just let cen cey
ngs 90. / think Of those giants" ~
Why, Allan!" exclaimed hls wife, ~
did not realize there was 30 much IaS
stake. It is something more than ~,
p marks. II is character forma- tba
b." ene
Yes. We cannot leave all the re- u ~ ,
to teachers. Without the - ~
l-saerihcing cooperation Of the NJ
'ents the school can do but little. he, ts,,
must set Jack on the right path cb, cS,
b him homework. I am confident 4,
shall soon see definite improve ana
It." anu anu