Duty of Parents Toward Their Children and Their Children’s Teacher
By Edith Manny
Much has been said on the subject of the teacher’s duty toward her pupils and their parents; but I wish to write of the duty of the parents toward the teacher and to their own children. I have seen parents who seemed to think that when their children were given their school supplies, and started to school every morning, their duty, in regard to the children’s school life, was ended. But not so, dear parents. Your duties and responsibilities are not so light and easily shaken off. In fact, when the child is started to school, your duties have just begun, so far as his school life is concerned. Surely no one can have a deeper interest in a child than his own parents ought to have; yet I have seen children who have so little interest taken in them at home, that their very faces show they are hungry for an encouraging word. Ought this to be so with our boys and girls? How can fathers and mothers rightly expect a teacher to arouse and maintain within their children an eager desire and intense interest to learn, when they do not encourage them at home? If parents show no interest in the child and his development, how can they expect that the child will have such an interest? A child with such a home environment, unless he has very strong will power and keen insight, is one of the listless, don’t-care class that are ever a source of difficulty to the already burdened teacher. Another serious error committed by unwise parents is to criticize the teacher in the presence of the children. To do this is to destroy and tear down all the respect and confidence the children should have for their teacher. “Well,” says one, “the teacher ought not to have faults, and make mistakes.” Perhaps this is true; perhaps she ought to be perfect. So ought we all; but are we? Can we rightly expect perfection in others, when we ourselves are not living up to that standard? If you find that the teacher is making some serious mistake in the management of your child, how much better it would be to go personally to her, and have a warm, heart-to-heart talk with her on the subject, than to storm about it in the presence of the children, and perhaps of your unconverted companion! Which is the better way? Which is the Christian way? Which will produce the better results? The duties of parents do not by any means excuse the teacher from her burden of responsibility. But the soul of that child of yours is so precious, and the agencies that are working to destroy it are so many and so strong, that it will take united, earnest effort to save it for the kingdom. What is more pleasing and successful than full co-operation between the parent and teacher, both of whom should feel their sacred duties and responsibilities? In order that the child may have the highest possible advantages, let every parent take a deeper and heartier interest in the child, co-operating fully with the teacher, who is, if an efficient teacher and a conscientious Christian (and no other kind should ever be placed over our youth), trying to the best of her ability to use her God-given powers to the best advantage for your child. Help her all you can. Help her with an encouraging word about the advancement of your child now and then; no one but a teacher knows how much such a kindness is appreciated. Help her by upholding her before your children. Help her by your co-operation and by your prayers. And you, dear teachers, take courage, and work more earnestly than ever. Remember that God will reward you for your anxious watching and faithfulness. Appreciate what he is doing for you, and what he has promised to do. Read Dan. 12:3. And remember that the servant of the Lord has said: “It is the nicest work ever given to mortal man to train the delicate, growing mind for eternity.”