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Show VISIT YOUR SCHOOLS' FORMS SLOGAN OF OGDEN'S SYSTEM Oct. 19-1924 Hopkins Tells Why Parents and Others Should Call, What to Observe and What to Inquire About. Visit your schools- That is the slogan adopted this year in an effort to interest parents in the work of their children and in order to give them an idea of what is being accomplished, according to W Karl Hopkins, superintendent of schools. A special attempt will be made to get parents and all other Ogdenites to attend the schools of the city during American Education week, November 17 to 23. NEED OUTSIDE HEDP. "Every school superintendent, , principal and teacher in the country is continually urging parents to I visit the schools," said Superintendent Hopkins. "In fact, thousands of parents do visit the schools each year-some on special occasions, as a school exhibit or a Friday afternoon exercise, and some when the schools are engaged in regular class room work. "Whatever the time of the visit may be, much good should result. The home and the school should be brought closer together. It is evident that the school cannot assume full responsibility for the success of the pupils in their work. The home must co-operate. If the parents visit the schools they can better learn what is their share of the responsibility in the education of their children. "The effectiveness of the schools of a community depends largely upon the interest that the people take in them. In a community where parents visit the schools, become acquainted with the teachers and learn all that they can about the conditions under which the teachers and pupils work, there are likely to be better schols than in the community where no parent ever steps inside the school house door. SOME CRITICIZE. "Carping criticism often comes from those persons who never look inside a schoolroom but who depend upon gossip for their information. First-hand information is always the best; therefore, those parents who are really interested in the schools will visit them several times each term. "Many parents do not visit the schools because they feel that they are not competent to judge classroom work. They say that teaching is a profession and that the layman should no more make suggestions to the teachers as to the methods of instruction than he would to a physician as to the kind and quantity of medicine to administer. All of this is true, but there are numerous reasons why parents should visit the schools. There are many things that they can observe." WHY MAKE VISITS? Following is a list explaining why parents should visit the schools, what they should observe, and what information they should seek of the principal .find teachers: To keep in touch with the work of their children. To encourage the teachers. To get first-hand information about the work of the schools. To show their willingness to cooperate with the administration of the schools. For the moral effect it will have on the ptipil to know that parents and teachers are pulling together in his training and discipline. To become acquainted personal- ly with teachers and principals. To learn at first-hand the conditions under which their children spend five hours a day. To learn the problems children must meet (courses of study, easy studies, difficult studies, time schedules, etc.) To make it more possible for school officials to interpret to parents the policies under which the school operates. To advise school authorities as to the needs of the district as seen from the parent's standpoint. To assist in obtaining certain things for the school than some districts seem unable to offer, such as cafeteria equipment, Vlctrolas, motion picture equipment, etc. TO FORM DEFENSE. To know the conditions and needs of the school so that they may intelligently defend the ,repu- tation of the schools and assist In keeping the schools from being commercialized and propagandized. To view their children from an angle other than that of the home and thus be able to guide more wisely their development. In order that parents themselves may understand a,nd appreciate changes in courses of study. To secure an accurate idea of the objectives of modern education and to find out how these objectives are being worked out in practice. To aid in developing the real school spirit in the community. WHAT TO OBSERVE. The sanitary condition of the school building. The general discipline and management of the school. The attitude of the teacher toward the children. The attitude of the children toward the teacher. The size of the classes. The supply of supplementary material as maps, dictionaries, etc. The physical conditions under which teachers and pupils are working. Facilities offered for the development of the health of the children.-playgrounds, nurses' quarters, etc. To what extent their own children participate in school activities. Equipment of school especially as relates to library, gymnasium, shop instructional material, etc. WHAT TO LOOK FOR. Information parents should seek: What parents can do to help the schools. Whether any bad habits have been noted in pupils. What is the general school success of the child. Are the teachers' salaries adequate? What are the qualifications demanded of the teaching force. General policies of the school department. Specific facts about parents' own, children. Per capita cost as compared with that of other cities. Whether the child is working up to his full capacity as determined by intelligence and educational tests. What are the vocational tendencies of the child, if any are I manifest? Purposes of the various courses I of study. Reasons for making or not mak ing changes in course of study. Finances of school district, tax rate, indebtedness, etc. Is pupil in course best suited to his capacity and needs. Does pupil show any special aptitudes disabilities? Has pupil too many outside activities? Is pupil courteous and helpful? Does pupil enter into a sufficient number of student activities? What provisions are made for backward and for superior children? |
