The Relation of the School Board to the Parents by F. G.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 10, 1907

The Relation of the School Board to the Parents

By F. G.

We have been asked to express our opinion concerning the relation and authority of a school board to that of the parents, particularly in regard to the relation of young men and women. What we may say is, of course, only our personal opinion. It would seem that while the school board may have authority to make any regulations which it may desire regarding the conduct outside of school, of students living in their own homes, yet it would undoubtedly be expedient and a part of better judgment for boards, as far as possible, to leave the conduct of pupils who are living in their own homes, to the parents. Of course the school board has the authority, or power, to make many regulations relating to the deportment of students which would be unadvisable or unnecessary to make.

In our boarding-schools the board and faculty are responsible for the conduct and deportment of the young persons placed under their charge, and this responsibility rests upon them at all times, whether the students are in school or out. But the first responsibility of the care of the children and young people must rest upon the parents so long as their children are with them in their homes.

In our church-schools the boards have the “power” to say that if young men and women associate together, and courtship is carried on, even outside of school and in the homes of parents, they can not attend the school. They may base their action in this matter upon instruction from the Testimonies; but the question would still remain, Does not this instruction and the carrying of it out apply first and foremost to the parents, and would it not be the part of wisdom to leave the responsibility with them? If they saw fit to permit their sons and daughters to receive and pay attention to each other during the term time, would not the responsibility for any mistakes naturally rest upon the parents rather than the teachers?

This is certainly a question which presents many perplexities, but yet it appears to us that the wise solution of the whole question is for boards and faculties, as far as possible, to leave the management of children and young people outside of school, to the parents. There are, of course, cases where parents assume a wrong and defiant attitude to the general spirit and regulations of the schools, and apparently desire their children to do those things which the ones in charge of the school feel are harmful, and they carry this spirit not only in their homes, but into the school, in their determination to break down what may seem to them a wrong and useless regulation. Then in some instances it does become necessary for the board or faculty or both to take decided steps in the matter. However, this is not generally the attitude of the parents of the pupils in our schools; and when this spirit is manifested, it can generally be overcome by kind and careful explanation and reasoning with the parents.

F. G.