The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-02-12
THE POSSIBILITIES OF
THE SIX-YEAR-OLD

d
We, the enlightened people of the
Twentieth century, are willing to ac-
knowledge the wisdom of Solomon's
admonition when he said, Train up
child In the way it should go, and
when it is old 1t will not depart from
it,"
How many OF us as mothers realize
that the child's training begins in the
cradle?
Even in the first few days Of its
dear little existence we are told again
and again to not spoil the baby.
The Roman Catholic Priest was
not far from right when he said,
"Give me the first seven years Of the
child's life, and you may have him
afterwards.
In the first seven years the foun-
dalton for both life and eternity is
laid.
We, che mothers, are the archi-
tects, but il we could only compre-
bend the responsibility resting upon
us, we would be utterly crushed by
its weight.
AS a matter Of fact, we all know
that the Unborn tendencies of chill
dren are different but these latent
powers are awakened and assert
themselves at very early age.
If this developing is watched by
the loving eye Of mother, the evil
tendencies may be subdued in child
hood, and the teachings OF right
life implanted.
Moses refused to be called the son
of Pharo's daughter, not because of
inborn tendencies but because Of his
mothers teachings in early child
hood. ial IN s..t.@E
In what has been said have tried
to show that the ground work of
character should be laid previous to
the sixth year.
Of course mistakes may be reme-
died and wrong principles may be
torn up by the roots, but the mend
ed vase or the patched garment is
never so beautiful
For six short years mother has
complete control over her little
ones, but at the end Of that time she
must share the child's item and af-
lection with its teacher.
Baby is baby no more, but rosy
checked school girl.
1t is indeed momentous period
in the little ones life, when for the
first time she enters the schoolroom.
If, fortunately, she is met by a
conscientious, loving, capable teach
er, all will be well.
1t is at school, the child, as rule,
is first taught the necessity of re-
specting other peoples rights and
wishes. If this lesson is not learned
she will soon find herself alone in
crowd, with no friends and no play
mates.
When our little ones bring from
school samples of their own work,
and present them to us with SO much
pride, do we notice them or, are we
too busy to look.
The great artist, Benjamin West,
says in his autobiography, when he
was little boy he drew a picture on
the fly-leaf of costly book and
went and showed it to his mother.
She, instead of Furnishing him as !!
many thoughtless woman would |
nave done, told him it was pretty and |
gave him kiss.
He says it was that kiss from his
mother which made him a painter.
4 Abraham Lincoln pays tribute to
lis mothers wise discernment of |
childhood by saying. All that / am
md all that hope to be my sainted
mother, made me- IN
If we could be in Nancy Lincoln's
lace, what one of us would not value
UGH a tribute, more than the elegant
marble shaft, which marks her rest
ng place? This shaft was not placed
yer her grave because of any great
ational work she did, but because
ne brought up her boy in the way
e should go, a man, who, years after
err tongue lay silent in the grave,
hook the nation from center to cir
who by a stroke of his
en- wiped out the darkest blot on
merican history. s
At six years of age, the child is in
measure responsible for his own
,nduct and must be taught to be-
ave because it is right and not be-
iuse he knows punishment will be
eeted out for wrong doing.
! am we'll aware Of the fact that /
L. 49,. \ a. Il ! Il - III