Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-04-28

THERE is, to my mind, no subject
so vital about which one may write
as that on which | have been asked to
express my opinion. Children What
would the world be without them? BY
them the perpetuity of the race is as
sured and on their upbringing the prog
ress of the world depends. Although the
superlative importance of bringing up
children properly has been realized for
ages, there are no rules to guide the
young parent; the only principles to be
followed are individual ones, and the
mistakes of one generation are often
passed on to the next through an I'M
reasoning prejudice possessed by some
people against anything that is not old
fashioned"
Every Child an Individual
Of course every child born into the
VIC Id has its own individuality its own
twists of character These have t. be
dealt with as occasion demands, and
they should De the subjec: of deep study
On the par of the parent But is it not
strange that, while there have always
been numerous instances OF this sort of
thing, the average parent is inclined to
regard a special mental twist as nothing
more nor less than a childish whim
bothersone and annoying to the parent,
but not worthy of serious attention. In
fact, do not the majority of parents
nowadays absolutely fail to realize the
great responsibility that is theirs, and
are they not therefore to be held &C
countable for many actions of their off
spring in after life2
/ have perhaps passed rather suddenly
70 the point Of what | have to say but
it is point that has always been upper
most in my mind when thinking of chill
dren One who will seriously consider
the possibilities of the proper training
of children and the decrease in crime and
wretchedness such training would mean
will agree with me that there is no other
topic so worthy Of earnest attention
The next generation will be exactly
what the children of to-day are. Should
we not strive with all our might to make
II a better generation than this one
should we not seek all the aid and
counsel that we can obtain on this most
important subject?
Rules Possible
The statement that there are no rules
to guide parents needs explanation
There can never be a set of rules BY
which children may be brought up, be-
cause there will always be individuality
TO reckon with, both in the parent and
in the child OF recent years there has
been tendency to advancement that
has much that is good and much that
is bad in it.
1t IS absurd to think that every child
should walk at certain age; that a fail
ure TO talk at the age Of eighteen months
IS a sign of lacking mentality. Never
theless there are many mothers who
noticing that their sons do not progress
as rapidly as their neighbors', endeavor
10 force progress. The result is none
the less disastrous because not req lied
by those who are responsible
Aside from suOil matters as these,
there are many things that may be sub
ject to regulation / have a larger
family than the majority OF women in
America, and ! have always found that
IN a great many things, the same treat
ment brings about the same results, no
matter how different the children may
be Individually Before my first child
entered the world ] realized that | was
accepting a great respon sibility, and for
that reason no sacrifice has seemed too
great or me
The Ordeal of Motherhood
was, at least to an extent, prepared
for the ordeal through which | was to