The Omaha guide., 1956-09-14
By Elizabeth Davis Pittman

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It's back to school for millions
of youngsters, and parents are
now more than ever concerned
with education and its attendant
problems. In looking at this sub
ject, let us cultivate some new
ideas. Let us cultivate some So
called foolish" ideas. Let US
attempt to educate some smart
youngsters around us that don't
konw enough to know that GER
tain things can't be done, and
maybe they will do them.
Let rs cultivate youngsters
who don't know that because
people are of different races or
creeds that they supposedly can
not live together as neighbors
peacefully and happily; perhaps
they will prove that although they
look different and worship God
in a different way, they are
working for the same things.
Let us educate children not
merely to earn a living, but let
us adopt the definition of viii
liam Goodwin in the first SEN
tence of his Enquirer" f1797)-
"The true object of education,
like that of every other moral
process, is the generation Of hap
piness."
do not propose to give you
facts and figures concerning our
educational system; but merely
opinions that may result in your
taking a more personal interest
in our educational system. /
propose to urge your participa.
ton in your local PTA group
not because you have child in
school and feel that it Is one OF
your parental obligations. but
because the PTA is not only an
organ to voice the opinions of the
parents, it is an organ to voice
the opinions of the children
These individuals whom we call
our children. whom we watch
every day, whom we intend to
guide are with us many hours Of
the day. They come TO us with
impressions they have formed as
a result of their activities in
school, in youth organizations
and in the community generally.
They are more willing to tell us
they like this, they dislike that
and why. We. as their parents,
are in a position TO separate the
wheat from the chaff, and in the
forming OF our own opinions, to
be guided by their reasonable
arguments; so that in the deci-
sions and acts of our local PTAs,
there are many of the attitudes
of the children expressed. Let
us participate in our local PTAs
as a form of protection and in
surance of the benefits to be
gained by the entire family.
l wish to urge the support OF
measures which offer more bene-
fits to the teachers. We, as
parents and adult citizens, can
not complain if there is short
age Of teachers, if the products
of the school system should not
accept the responsibilities Of
citizenship, if we have failed to
provide the proper surroundings,
If the profession does not at
tract capable teachers who love
their work. We must realize
the fundamental importance Of
education-"that next in i'm
portance to freedom and justice
is popular education, without
which neither justice nor free
dom can be permanently main
tanned (James Garfield)
"In educating this generation
Of smart" youngsters. We, as
parents, must establish a rela-
tionship Of confidence, trust and
friendship between teacher and
pupil So that the encourage
ment given the child is Of genu-
inc help to the pupil. In our
country today. 9Oez Of the child
ren remain in school until they
reach the age Of is. II there is
an atmosphere Of friendship IN
the school. there viii be less
dropping out Dropping out is 81
serious problem because in a
survey taken a number of years