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PARENTS AND TEACHERS- AS PARTNERS * Not so many years ago parents and teachers took each other's independence for granted. Parents felt they had discharged their obligation to the school when they had hustled their children off in the morning--fed, clean, and on time. For their part, teachers seemed content to confine their communication with parents to formal grade cards. But parents and teachers rarely got together. Actually, they were likely to be uneasy in each other's presence, and no wonder. For about the only time they met was when Johnny got into trouble. Fortunately, today, more and more mothers and fathers realize that their job of bringing up a child is only partially done when it is done independently of the teacher. In turn, the wise teacher seeks the parents' full partnership. In order to give every child the educational adventages he deserves, the teacher must have as much knowledge of his life outside the school as it is possible for her to have. If Johnny has an older brother who tyrannizes him, or if Mary has temper tantrums, these are important things for the teacher to know. For modern education no longer divides the child in two or three parts. Today the child takes to school not only his body, not only his mind, but also his emotions. * By Earl J. McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C. for Parents' Magazine, November, 1949.