Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-27

gather up the broken fragments Of a pos
sible science of child rearing and then
place their findings in condensed form free
OF charge in the hands Of all prospective
parents. can think of no better and
quicker way Of regenerating the whole
race.
Theory as to Heredity.
For ages past it was thought that young
children who committed criminal acts
were inherently criminal Thousands Of
little children have been cruelty thrust
into foul prisons and branded as moral
degenerates in the public eye, when as
a matter of fact they merely needed the
opportunity that any ordinary parent can
today be taught how to give. 1 challenge
any reader of this article to follow out the
great work being done at present by the
best juvenile courts, the industrial schools
once called reform schools and the
other like institutions, and not become
thoroughly converted to the side of train
ing as an efficient means of saving the
youth OF the land.
''As an evidence of what can be achieved
by means of scientific research and its
application we may call to mind what the
neurologist and the pathologist have re-
Gently done for backward school children
Within the past five years it has been dis
covered by research methods that the
school teachers have been blundering fear
fully in their dealings with about one
third OF their pupils, the latter having
been regarded as miscreants and block
heads when instead they simply needed
treatment for defective sight, hearing and
for malnutrtion.
OverwOrk and Underworld.
Worse blundering than that last re-
ferred to is still going on with respect to
the problems of home training. Many good
boys are doubtless being driven from the
farm through overwork and lack Of
congenial environment. Many good
girls likewise come to the age OF full
maturity bent in form and blighted in
mind and soul through the effects of
cramping toll and the lack of that finer
social and spiritual development which can
come only from those things which daily
bring the light of affection and the in
spiration of hope into the consciousness.
ION the other hand we find roaming
daily and nightly upon the streets OF our
towns and villages many overTipe blase
16-year-old boys, who through lack Of any
well planned eexrcise or the experience of
persistent work are without the moral
stamina necessary to Unable them to an
swer the many imperative calls for well
disposed young artists and artisans. Girls
too, there are-running mates of these
boys-grls approaching the age OF grown
up womanhood, whose minds are nourished
chiefly on the airy dreams OF coming out
parties, pink teas and the ultra fashions
In clothes.
The foregoing undesirable conditions
assume serious aspect when we con-
slider that these same youths and maldens,
themselves more or less ignorantly reared,
are daily plighting their troth and being
united in marriage without any knowledge
Of the meaning and responsibilities Of
parenthood other than what they have by
chance picked up through the gossip Of
their associates
Underlying all this complex work Of
child rearing is a we'll developed science
psychology. which ought to be required
in an elementary form in all secondary
school courses. Later every prospective
parent should be required to take a thor
ough course OF training In the psychology
Of child development. Such a training
viii, in my opinion. do more to save the
boys and girls and the whole country than
any other discipline that can be offered"
During the investigation Of cigarette