The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1909-08-27

Are the teachers of the public
schools In Wayne county liars?
The question. How many OF you ev.
er told a lie." was asked the teachers
for institute this morning
and there was a large majority lifted
the right hand in token of their pre-
The question was asked
by DR.. Kinnaman. one of the institute
lectures. He had preceded 1t with the
question. How many of you never
told a lie?" only q moment before.
There were no hands raised.
But the test put to the teachers per-
haps does not apply to them any more
than to any other group OF adults. The
speaker was not seeking intimate in
formation. only endeavoring to show
ito err is human" and to dispell the
belief that only children are guilty of
Misrepresentation. The teachers who
failed TO raise their hands indicating
their short coming. were told by the
lecturer they knew they were lieing
when they did not confess.
Was c'Ver Plea.
1t was another clever plea for more
leniency for the child on the part of
the teacher. Dr. Kinnaman asked that
the child, who misrepresents occasion
ally be not condemned as ticketed for
heh He said parents and older per.
sons set the example. The child hears
his mother say I'm SO glad to SEQ
you' when she greets friend whom
he knows she despises. The child 10
told about the boogerman or the
blackman behind the door. when ho
knows there is nobody there. He
loses respect for the truth and looks
upon lieing as an accomplishment
Children are lied about. lied to and
lied at. SO is 1t any wonder that they.
too. should lie.
Instead of lieing. the child Is play.
ing with his imagination" said Dr.
Kinnaman. He may tell you he saw
a parade OF 800 elephants. He doesn't
tell 1t for the sake Of the misrepre
sentation. You must give him q Wild
er, richer experience. Let him come
in contact with other things. Let him
became familiar with works OF art.
the flowers, things of beauty OF al
kinds. BY these you will refine the
Imagination of the child. II you coercs
him. tell him he Is Icing. laugh at
him, you encourage him. and he thinks
he has done something to attract your
attention.
Not Gaiio~fs Bird.
when a child begins to deceive ana
tries to cover up his shortcomings you
conclude he is on the way to the gal
lows. 1t is an awful thing to prevari.
cate. the father and mother never did
1t. When the child comes to this per-
iod of misrepresenting the truth, II
usually lasts but a week or SO. After
ward, it passes away and he becomes
as truthful as ever.
Children often misrepresent solely
to make a better impression. A child
plays truant. He says he IL sick or
offers some other reason Often he
becomes ill suddenly, when he sees
the teacher distribute examination pa
per. He il afraid of the consequences
and that is what leads him to lie. Too
often the temptation Is put before the
child. that could be avoided, and this
causes him to lie.
do not magnify the offenses d
children. II you do they will become
afraid and the next time instead Of
telling you about them frankly. they
will lie. Refine the imagination Of the
child and this win prevent his willing
ness to misrepresent Don't commend
his Misrepresentation. Don't cause
nim to glory in his ability A. distort-
er Of facts And then be carefu1 q
yourself Don't misrepreseut to q -
fore him.
cod's Way With Doy1
The Way Of God with . Boy. W10
the subjec. for this mornings address
by DR.. Forbush. He spoke q t1se
boys sense of God. as the sense a
fear. He said the boy most often =
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