Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-10-08
What DO We Owe the Child?
paper delivered at the Fruit
dale Grange by Mrs. II. c.
Bateham.)


To write a paper on SO important a
subject for a neighborhood where
children are so scarce is good deal
like an old maid giving advice on
How to raise children" We all
have a great many ideas about what
children owe their elders, and many
of them are correct. The child owes
his parents all the love, respect,
obedience and helpfulness that can
be thought of, yes, and more than
this. But the duty is not all with
the child, as so many seem to be-
! lleve. We owe something to the
child.
hold that every child has the
right to be well born. By this, I
do not mean that the proverbial
silver spoon must accompany the
child, but a good, vigorous constitu-
tion is his right.
Parents do wrong to hand down
to their children a body tainted by
liquor or tobacco; to breathe into
the young babys face the tobacco
breath, so strong that 1t will almost
choke one not continually poisoned
by it, to hand down a constitution
weakened by late hours or other eX-
cesses. As | said, the child has the
right to be born well, strong, with
good mental powers not impaired
by any defect or vice of the parents
Then he has the right to be prop
ly cared for during his tender years
and having such a child, what do we
still owe him?
An education. This begins with
baby's first days and should be car.
ried on under the direction of the
parents till maturity. Obedience
Is one of the first lessons: to obey his
parents quickly, willingly, faithfully
and honestly. This can be accom-
plished in every case If undertaken
Alright Children differ in tempera
ment, so their treatment must vary
but let every child know very early
In life that there Is a higher power
than their own will, and it will ado
materially to their own comfort, t
say nothing of the comfort of every
one about them,
1t Is the duty Of parents to teacl
truthfulness and honesty. How car
you expect child to be truthful /
his mother says, Johnny, don't pla,
in the mud or I'll spank you" thel
calmly goes about her work anC
Johnny continues to play in tn,
mud knowing full well that thu
promised spanking will not come. |
you make a promise, keep 1t, no mat
ter how much 1t hurts you. Be YER
slow to make promises.
The education obtained in schoo
is very important, so we owe tn
child the best schooling we ca
possibly give. Select the teacher wit
a view to teaching good manner
and morals, as well as the thre
Rs. Let the child have all the tim
possible, nine months each year, t
go to school. If your boy shows
decided liking for electricity or me
chanics, or live stock. let him re
ceive special instruction along tina
line. This is the age of specialist
and why should not the farmer an
the farmers boy become specialist
as well as any one. He cannot d
his best In forty different lines, s
let him choose and make his special
ty so noted that he will be a powe
in his community. Let the gil
II op''ldll1N dlob' lHt lllut lS pas
when the girl need only know ho'
to cook and sew. Not that thes
are not important either, for | b,
\ lieve that every girl should be taugf
these things thoroughly, but If sh
j has a taste for architecture, or surl
l cry, let her be educated for II d
much as If she We're boy.
1 In giving the child an education
4 we must not forget the moral an
Christian side of his life, The form,
| tion Of character not what he doe
but what he is 10 live with one S
l straightforward, honest and tru
that YOU cannot think of their d,
-, ing an undorhand thing, is, IN ltsel
an education.
We are constantly influenced |
those about us, so how careful "
| must be to have the companions
our children such that we are n,
I afraid OF their influence. Have yC
4 ever thought what dress has to d
| with character An article in r.
cent Grange Bulletin ON this subie
=. Is SO good | want to quote from
1 children do after a fashion, inn
=. tate their clothes. \ child that
: dressed gaudily in bright color