The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-05-07

A good deal is heard Of incorrigible
children, but is it no, just to talk now
and then about the incorigibility Of
parents2 Arguing from cause upon
effect, it is not unfair 10 assume that
in great many instances those traits
ii the character Of children which de-
velop into the incorrigible, or least
wise are thus regarded by the parents,
are generated and fostered by the lat
ter. In the majority OF cases those
children are stigmalized by their pa
rents as incorrigible who do not yield
prompt and unreasoning obedience to
the parental authority and command.
Even if these commands were not often
in themselves unreasonable, it would
be more rational policy to seek the
attainment of the ends to which they
are directed by less insistence upon
slavish submission.
1t is much to be feared that parents
do not sufficiently take into account
the different characteristics of their
offspring. All children cannot be gov
erned by the same rules any more than
a shoemaker can make shoes for all
his customers on the same last. Ma
ture has not distributed her gifts with
absolutely impartial hand. She has
implanted yielding disposition here,
and stubborn one there. Where
single word will make one child do
the thing desired, or leave undone that
against which the parental edict goes
forth, persuasion is necessary with an
other to accomplish the same results.
1t is strange that parents cannot or
will not understand this. The same
difference in the disposition are no.
ticed in adults, and are we not told
that they care but children of a larger
growth"
Those parents especially who have
no other Interpretation for the maxim
that Gas the twig bent the trees in
clined" than their own imperious will,
are most frequently responsible for the
development of what they are pleased
to designate as incorrigible children.
The trouble with them is that they do
not attempt to understand their little
ones. They do not take the pains to
study character, temperament, dispo-
sition, predictions, likes and dislikes.
They utterly ignore the fact that a
child's nature is far more complex
than an adults, because the fact that
the capacity to reason, to deduce re-
suits from causes, to explain why's and
wherefores is immature and that it is
the duty of the parents as it ought to
be their pleasure, to develop these fac
ulties PATIENTLY consistently and in
diligently.
Of course, it is not intended here
to convey the impression that parents
should abdicate their authority over
and exercise no restraint upon their
children. So far from it, the parent
should use both, but in rational way,
recognizing the fact that his child,
like himself, is a rational being. He
should not be dictator or tyrant, but
the guide, philosopher and friend. If
it is desired to have a certain thing
done try to make the child compre-
bend that it is for his good, but do
not insist upon blind, unreasoning
obedience. Thus, when the time comes
for the boy or the girl to choose call
ing in life, let it be according to their
tastes and not to the preconceived no.
tions of the parents without any refer
ence to the inclinations or adaplability
Of the young folks.
All that has been said here may be
summed up in three words. Use COM
mon sense. If that is done there will
be fewer applicants to the courts to
commit incorrigible children to reform
schools, and the building up of char
acter will proceed much more satisfac-
torily.-Concord Standard.