Evening star., 1936-09-10
Teachers
Outside
Schools
Parents First Infu-
entail Instructors
Children Know.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

TEACHING is great. a noble pro-
fession, and there are many,
many people who engage in it. Some,
I fear, do so with little preparation
for the work and little understand
ing Of the responsibility they are un-
dertaking. To be teacher requires
q willingness to learn. Most OF the
teaching is done in association with
children, and as no two are alike the
teacher must ever be on the alert to
catch the slightest degree Of differ
ence and meet it in the instruction.
A teacher who is teacher never
ceases to learn, never ceases to be
eager to learn. The bumptious per-
son who knows everything. whose
dignity is offended by a child's ques-
ton, is no teacher by virtue Of his
ignorance Of his profession.
Not all teachers are employed in
schools. Only small part of the
teaching force Of a people is trained
and works in educational systems.
Most Of the teaching is done by peo-
pie who live in homes. shops and
farms. Fathers and mothers are the
first and most influential teachers
children know. Then come relatives
and friends and neighbors. After
them come the teachers in the schools.
School education is only one kind Of
education; the others are based on
experiences in life and are derived
from influential teachers, many of
whom are not conscious of their mis-
sion.
This Is particularly true Of mothers.
I have heard 50 many mothers say:
"Of course, he doesn't know those
things yet. When he gets to school
he will learn them" The things that
are meant are character traits that
have been set in the children by
heredity and training before they ever
reach school. They have been taught
by the mother herself, and. they will
remain In force, fading only after
stubborn resistance and much expert
ence in opposition to them. Self
training Is what will correct the mis-
takes Of early experience, and that
is long and difficult process.
School teachers are usually anxious
to learn about their work from any
one who has something to teach.
Glass room experience soon shows
them the need for all the informa-
ton, all the exchange Of experiences,
all the practical suggestions that they
can gather. Each day presents a new
problem to the teacher, and the richer
his store Of knowledge the better able
he Is to meet the need. Most teachers
know this and act on it.
Mothers have not the opportuni-
ties teachers have, but these are in
creasing. Mothers clubs are a great
help. BY joining one and attending
the meetings the help becomes more
effective and its quality improves.
Each member added to q club adds
to its strength. It Is q great mistake
for q mother to say: "Oh, can't
see what good going there would do
me. I know all those mothers, and
they don't know any more than I
do" When two or three gather to-
gether there Is strength, the strength
that combined power always brings.
One member stimulates another and
new ideas are born. Don't discredit
your own prophet, but be one in your
turn.
There are good books for parents
to read. Magazines edited for their
interests. Lectures and meetings for
their instruction. A good teacher Is
always eager to learn and parents are
teachers Of great influence.