The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-11-19
CHILDREN AND STUDIES.
Little Ones Should Be Allowed IN
Progress Naturally and Not
Be Hurried.

Hdost mothers experience the TENN
tatlon to push their children forward in
their studies" says a mother with var,-
Gus interesting theories on the unbriny-
ing OF children, according to the New
iorK tribune. This is a great mis-
take, Tor undeyeloped brains should NOT
DC strained with work, any more than
undeYeloped muscles. A little cbila
should not be hurried, and no mother
Snould be worried if her child does NOT
snow great brilliancy. 1t is really her.
yer Tor him to grow slowly. If steadily
in intellect.
ana the same is true of bows and
s,rls in their teens. Many a Young
phenomenon in school has turned into
an uhlnltigated bore in later life with
out any originality of any kind, while
sohe OF the greatest men in art, litera-
lure, etc. were considered ounces in
school' Though they seemed at the fine
10 De stupid, they We're really erowine
ano their minds were stronger for this
SLOW steady growth. Our colleges and
schools are beginning to recognize This
when they refuse to admit pupils under
a stated age.
IL is the height of folly and cruelty
10 r'olcule stupid children, as some
teachers often do. Their slowness does
not always mean natural stupiditv and
even II II Toes 1t is none the less brutal,
lor a person can no more help having
a veal brain than he can help having
a weak body or deformed features.
Inc feelings of children are ant IN
DC much more sensitive than growp
people think they are. Kindness and
sympathy will often bring out the latent
intelligence and quickness of a youns
mihd Where harshness would only sue
coed in Supplying it.
"A mother must also see that her
are growing as strong pbysi-
"aily as they are mentally. They must
nave a suitable amount of nourishinp
FOOD This is even more important than
"heh they are grown up. Do not re-
luSe them too many bon-bons. A few
'ugary things are good for them occa-
'lona!ly, especially in the bitter winter
Although grain foods are good do not
give them too many, nor think that
oatmeal cruel will fill every want. Pro-
VIDE plenty of hot meat broths, Irish
SteWs, etc, and put sandwiches of
minced meat and of mayonnaise Dress
hg IN the luncheon baskets. Pies and
rlch pastry should, of course, be avoided.
out lrult tarts are an occasional sur
prise. Let the crust be the brownest
and only made with butter, never with
ara. All boys and girls ought to have
klnd OF hot broth for their school
u~ncheons, and when this is not prac-
1cable let them have it on reaching
lone.
inc cannot expect a child to make A
success in after life if his physical
Iealth has been sacrificed to his intellec-
development, This statement cam
.ot be tooo often repeated. 1t is some
wise to keep a delicate girl or a
hid who has lately recovered from q
illness entirely out of school for
year. Make her live outdoors in the
unshine until she is thoroughly strong.
he nervous strength thus gained will
nable her to more than make I'D the
ime lost. |
"A great mistake which some parents y
make is to let their growing children sit
to all hours Of the night. The re-
ult is that they come to school so sleepy
lat they cannot work. This is quite a {
ommon occurrence in many public
chools in and around New York. Some
mes a little boy of ten or 70 will fall
asst asleep in school, and perhaps a kind
teacher will let him alone, c
moving that sleep is a physical neces- n
.ty to him. Mothers must see that their t.
ltldren go to bed early, so that they E
have their full amount of rest. The G
.d-tashioned boarding schools had Il
ANY mistaken methods, but in some G.
avs had much to commend them. They Ct
INT the children to bed at $50 or 9 el
clock, and they were graduated with n
'sy cheeks and healthy dig~estions. Il
ormal dances, fudge parties and thea Il
RS are all very well for young women b.
IS and 20 years, but not for school to
lildren. Of course, these younger girls di
ant some good times, too, for all work II
I'd no play makes anyone dull, but in
ese pleasures need not be such as will &c