Show THE RURAL SCHOOL IS NOT A NURSERY 1 11 I dont know whether they expect roe rile to teach school or to take care of babies this is what a beginning rural teacher said whose lot fell in a district in which some of the mothers had the habit of sending preschool pre school children to school on oil wash days town day and other busy days this practice is common in many rural communities it would not be tolerated in most city school sy systems it is unfair to the teacher tor for it adds to her burdens and makes it difficult for her effectively to follow her jays days program it is unfair to the pupils pupil a because their attention is distracted from their work it is unfair to preschool children because they are too young to be hold held to the restrictions of the schoolroom such children need bodily freedom and afternoon naps the whole practice amounts to a shifting ot of responsibility on the part of the parents and robbing of the pupils of the best results of their school duties it is difficult tor for young teachers to handle bandle the situation school trustees usually follow a policy of silence lor for tear fear of arousing neighborhood aulmon ties would it not be well for or granges school improvement associations and other rural organizations that have at heart the welfare ot of the school tae tac ully fully to bring the matter up f or discussion cus sion A sympathetic understanding 0 of the extent to which the practice is determined to 10 the best interests of teacher pupils and preschool pre school children will do much to create a corrective public opinion |