The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-09-23

habitual congregations The boy comes
In great excitement telling his father
that he saw at least twenty dogs FIGHT.
ing together. a calm examination
and inquiry would bring forth the final
admission that there were three.
After this admission the boy should
be told that It is wrong to exaggerate
In this manner that he must think
first and weigh his words before he
talks. Some children who exaggtiate
in this manner may ultimately believe
themselves what they say. In this
case the lie comes very close to the
pathological lie. II is well to be aware
of this possibility if there is a question
of taking the testimony OF children i'm
important matters. Sometimes aston.
ishing statements were made by
number of children and serious accu-
sations believed, though they were en-
tirely unfounded
Another class of lies comes from
nervousness, excitement, and fear of
punishment. This must be treated
with kindness and sympathy and will
be usually prevented by reasonable
and fair treatment.
Then there is what has been called
the heroic lie, when one tells n lie to
protect some one else, even takes the
blame and punishment upon himself to
shield another. In some cases this
arises from a naturally generous, al
most chivalrous, disposition. The Of
fender should be told that his gen.
crosby is to be admired and that it is
well he should show it wherever he
honorably and lawfully can, but that
this lie is the wrong way of showing
it, and the end does not justify the
means, and that he injuries his own
character.
This applies also to those cases in
which one helps others by allowing
them to copy his themes, tasks, etc.
Some tell the child in such cases that
they act unwisely, as their parents do
not give all they have to their neigh
) bors, so they should keep the fruits of
: their labors to themselves. l would
: not easily use this method. Does it not
' appeal too much to selfshness? And
? of this there is too much. Would it
not mean in scripture language driv-
ing out the devil by another? Rather
should the child be told that he rightly
shows generosity wherever he can do
> so without violating law of morality:
that, far from helping his friend, he
= INJURIES him by encOuragin him in
! his laziness and dishonesty. In this
Y way it is possible to prevent dishon-
esty without destroying that beautiful
spirit of helpfuness.
= There is no reason to despair even
S in the case of a so-called confirmed
f liar. He may not be so confirmed" as
} he appears. The teacher should never
r forget that there are no moral incura-
: bles Certainly no child should ever
be told that he is a hopeless case. nor
| is it wise to tell a child, Because you
told me one lie l shall never believe
= you again. Would not this be, in the
Scripture language, breaking the
: bruised reed and quenching the smok-
} ing flax?
5 Such proceeding would destroy all
= hope, all moral effort. There is
= usually in children, after they have
been found guilty of deceit, a yearn-
! ing desire to be trusted again. The
prudent and sympathetic teacher will
y Utilize this desire, may even say 20
3 the child, If now you try to be strictly
truthful ! shall give you my full CON
S tidence again and act as if nothing
! had happened
1 There are known cases of boys
Y VINO, given to lying, when once thor
i oughly convinced of the disgraceful-
e ness of this habit conceived horror
d OF 1t, became Disguised with every
5 thing dishonest, and became distin-
v guished for uprightness and truthful
Y ness. There is sometimes a peculiar
n clearness about characters which by
e humiliating experience have learned
s 10 be true after having been dece:tful.
/ Most lies originate from sheer ego
dsm, md they are emptoyaq to gain
d some emolument or other. Or, as is
it most commonly the case with children,
it lies are told to escape censure and
II punishment AS the umbrella is used
y against rain and snow, so lies are used
u by children to keep off ceusure and
e punishment
1T is not asserted that all children
e can be cured of the habit of lying if
| they once aCuuire If, Stiu tbo ,,,