The Miami times., 1950-12-16
Can The Teacher
Help The Parent?

At sometime during the very
early period of a child'S hfe atti-
tudes and feelings toward people
and situations develop. These
feelings have their beginnings in
the surroundings such as: the fam
lily group, relatives, and close
friends. The child judges, there
fore, an act on response in respect
to what has been done to him
either good or bad. He is like
river that takes everything pos
Sible in its course and at no time
is it the same as at any other
time. In my article of last week,
/ spoke of children being victims
of ignorance in training. These
children are the ones whose lives
will be out of harmony with the
accepted behaviour of society be-
cause the door to thinking h a S
been closed and the individuals are
governed through physical outlets
rather than through reasoning.
They may have difficulties in
making friends; they may be bull
lies; they may be antagonistic to-
ward everything; or they may be-
come filled with fear. This very
important period of development
begins before the child enters
school at the age of six years.
,, The family unit is possibly the
most confused group in society
today. 1t is undergoing a great
change in the modes of courtship,
marriage, rearing of children and
the independence of youth. Those
educators who are studying the
processes are almost as much in
a quandry as the parents. They
test, experiment, write books, plan
meetings and participate in work.
shops. All to study the child's re-
actions from early life until
adulthood. The question then
comes as to how the teacher can
help the parents in our commun-
ity, that is to help the parents to
understand the great social up
heavel of the twentieth century in
order that the family may per-
form its duty and accept the
changes realistically. The schools
are adding courses on family liv-
ing, psychology, and a new inter-
pretation of sociology which re-
main in the school since the rela-
tionship of school, parent and
community agencies is poor or
rather weak.
The parents of Miami must be
contacted by those with influence
and who are willing to lead. If
the. teachers can interest organi-
cations to set up block groups of
adults and instruct them in child
hood education, then I would say
that the teacher can do something.
Our state colleges if they are to
serve the youth of the state should
be asked to release some prepared
specialist to assist the commun-
ity in setting up these study
groups and at the same time US
ing the resources here. The teach
er can help if the parent comes
to the school to discuss with the
teacher some of little Johnnie'S
troubles. Yes, talk in the spirit of
those who have a common inter-
est. Parents, did you visit your
child'S first grade teacher? Were
you acquainted with all the teach
ers who piloted Johnnie through
the grades? Do you plkr to talk
with your child's high school
homeroom teacher about your
plans for his future education?
Without some information from
you the teacher is at a great dis
advantage and she will fail; you
will fail, and the child will face
Illustration and possibly a blight
ed career. Visit the school and
visit the PTA.
(Watch for Should Our Min
iSterial Alliance Set up a social
service clinic to work with child
rem and adults of all faiths in this