Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 251, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1912 — TO PARENTS. [ARTICLE]

TO PARENTS.

The report cards which will soon be issued to pupils in the Rensselaer schools, will be slightly different from the common report card and the attention of parents is therefore called to them. An effort has been made to be more specific in reporting the school life of the pupil. It is hoped that this feature wijl make them more valuable to parents. On the back of the card parents will find a statement in brief form of the function of the school. It aims to set forth the fact that the School is only one of the agencies in the education of the children. The home is really a far more important agency. The home has the child constantly for the six years prior to the beginning of the school life and has given the child many ideas and habits which are almost sure to remain through life. The home has the child the major part of the time even when the schools are in session: The community is also an important agency In the education of the children. The church, the clubs, the theatres, the activities of the street and various other elements in the community life, all have their influence in moulding the character and otherwise affecting the education of the children. It would be a wise thing for any community to authorize its board of education to include these matters under its supervision in addition to the school. Another matter to which the report card calls attention is that of assisting the pupil to find its place in life and to make the requisite preparation. This is a very important matter. But it is only in recent years that much has been done to render the child definite assistance in this direction. It has been felt that the proper thing to do was either to choose a child’s life-work for him, or else to leave him entirely to his own devices. It is now coming to be seen that neither of these proceedures is the It is seen to be better to give the child the best possible opportunity to show what is in him and then provide him with such counsel and information as will enable him to make a wise choice of vocation, a choice which will enable him to make the most possible out of his individual talents. Only a beginning has been made in this work of vocational guidance, but it is a movement which is rapidly gaining headway. Its importance becomes manifest upon a moment’s thought It is a matter of common observation that no two (individuals are of exactly the same endowment. Each has his own peculiar powers and capabilities. The only possible significance which could be attached to this is that each has a work of his own to do. Every one has noted cases of failure in life because of a disregard for this fundamental fact. Men have sought to fill a place.in life for which nature never fitted them, and they have either failed completely or performed their part but poorly. The school and the home should combine in an effort to correct this evil.—Superintendent of Schools.