Your Children at School

* Is it advisable for parents to help their children by explaining the lessons to them before they are given in class?

— No... It is better for the child to begin along with his classmates, for getting ahead of them in this respect may give him a false idea of his true standing among his peers, and may stir up their ill will against him — which may drive him to withdraw into himself, or to hate school.

* Is it preferable for parents to help their children do their school assignments at home?

— No... The first aim of doing school assignments at home is that the child should gradually learn to carry the responsibilities of independent work. The parents' role is to provide their child with a quiet place in which to work, and to help him get started. There is no harm in helping him to some extent from time to time, by way of encouraging him in his work. It has been observed, however, that most parents cannot give their children this help without their nerves flaring up and anger seizing them — with the result that they harm the child just where they meant to do him good!

* Should the child be examined by a doctor during every school year?

— Yes... in order to know the extent of his immunity against certain diseases. His sight and his hearing should also be examined, especially if his ears or his eyes are subject to inflammations from time to time. Such an examination enables the doctor to treat many physical defects in the child before they grow serious and become impossible to cure.