St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-26
CHILDREN,s RIGHTS.
The Obligations That Parents
owe to the Little Ones in Their

Care.
1t is the right of every child to be
talked to in sensible, intelligent
manner, instead of being obliged to
listen to the >sickening stuff called
''baby-taIk.''
1t is the right of every child that
his questions should have satisfactory
answers so far as possible. Yet, how
often are they snubbed and silenced
when their questions chance to inter
fere with the comfort of older peo-
pie? What other way have they for
gaining the information that is to
make them intelligent, observing,
thinking men and women?
1t is the right of every child to
be exempt from teasing in the home.
Why do so many parents thoughtless-
ly allow so much needless pain to be
given to sensitive little ones by those
who do not understand the nature of
a child?
1t is the right of every child. as he
grows older, to have a supply of read
ing matter intelligently and Judi
ciously selected. The old copy books
used TO tell US Mature abhors a va
cuum,'' and if the minds of our chill
dren are not stored with the beautiful
thoughts to be CLEANED from history,
poetry, biography and good fiction,
they will surely be filled with some
thing less worthy.
1t is the right of every child to be
allowed regular attendance at school
1t is claimed that it is seldom the
child of the poor Irish or German
laborer or of the widowed mother who
attends school only two or three days
in the week. These children are taught
to realize the need of a good education,
and are usually the most diligent and
persevering in trying to obtain it; and
the children Of well-to-do parents GER
tainly have a right to the same care
on the part of these parents
The child has a right to a place Of
his own, to things of his own and to
surroundings which have some rela-
ton to his size. his desires and his
capabilities.
The child has a right to more JUS
tfce in his discipline than we are gener-
ally wise enough and patient enough to
give him.
The child has right to expect exam
pies. He lives in the senses, he can
learn only through object lessons, and
we must not expect our children to be
better than the example which we
ourselves set them. No, nor even as
good, yet we demand perfect obedience.
truthfulnesS and other virtues which
we often fail TO cultivate in ourselves.
The child has a right to be taught
habits OF economy and self-denial by
being allowed a certain amount of
pocket money. Let him earn it, if
possible, and be it ever so little the
fact of its being his own will give a
special charm; and if taught to spend
II wisely, and to save and invest it
when possible, with the little account
books that should be kept by the child
ish fingers, the benefits derived from
this right will have an influence for
good throughout his life
The child has right to enjoy the
company Jf his parents to be made
companion of. Do not think your
whole duty done towards thAs little
active mind when YOU have provided
playthings and perhaps a child of the
same age as a playfcllow. Every child
has right to some period of time dur
ing each day when he will not be met
with, Il haven't time now, dear" but
Will feel at liberty to unload his bur-
den OF observations, and expand his
intellect III the genial atmosphere of
friendly intercourse with those older
and wiser than himself.