A Mother on Education.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 128, 23 April 1872, Page 7

A Mother on Education.

A late Deniliquin paper contains an admirable speech made by a lady resident—Mrs J. Powell—at Jerilderie. She laid the foundation stone of the public school. Some of her words are worth quoting :—" lam pleased in many ways. First, that you have shown respect to the oldest inhabitant (Mr Powell) by asking mo to come forward in this good and noble work. . . . Second, lam pleased to see so many mothers present. The socalled lords of the creation have as many notions about education as there are fish in the Billibong Creek, and each one his own notion differing from the other. Now, if mothers ask any of the great lecturers at what time a child begins to think, they are puzzled. The mother alone can know that—by the eye, and in many other ways ; it is for her to sow the first seeds of true education, and to watch tenderly and kindly its growth, so that in after years she can lvok back and say with motherly confidence, ' J did my part.' . . There is, in reality, scarcely anything which ought to stand in the way of a mother's constant and strict attention to the training of her children, because her influence is the most powerful; and whatever school she may select for them, whatever teacher she may choose, she is the chief person into avliosc hands their mental and spiritual welfare are placed. Third, I am pleased to see so many fathers present; and let me tell you that it is not sufficient for you to send your children to school, and then consider that you have done all that is required. It is not sufficient for you to know that they are safe home with their mothers at night, and then afterwards consider yourselves entitled to leave your homes for billiards, or some other of your selfish games, not caring one single jot for your homes or your children's instruction. I do not say that you can have in a measure the exact influence of the mothers, but I do maintain that you have an important duty to j perform, and that yours is equal to that of the mother's in striving to bring up your chili dren in the way they should go—that is, in I temperance, cheerfulness, truth, and trust in I God."