The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-16
WHAT IS BEST
FOR THE CHILD
Supt. Christensen Gives Valu-
able Suggestions Respecting
Character Building.
POSITIVE, NOT NEGATIVE,
IS END ALWAYS SOUGHT
Home Life of Parents Reflected
in Wonderful Manner in
Children.

Prof. D. H. Christensen, superintend'
ent of the public schools of Salt Lake
delivered brief lecture in the Ninth
ward meeting house Sunday forenoon.
Professor Christensen spoke on Child
Culture" and his remarks gave the
parents in the congregation clearer
insight into the proper rearing of their
children than they had before. Pro-
fessor Christensen, through hls long
service in connection with school work,
is we'll qualified TO speak on the topic
10 which he addressed himself, and his
informal talk left a deep impress upon
the minds of his auditors. Professor
Christensen spoke in substance as tol-
lows:
1t Is the most sacred privilege to WHICH
mortal man Is heir. only physicany
sound and mentally normal persons sh9nid .,E
be permitted TO trans transmit their rs klma ibex
are now morally prohibited The same
Inhibition should be placed upon moral
deeenerntes and criminals.
est expression OF divinity In man, can
Justify itself Any other Is per Sc wrons'
perhaps criminally wrong, 1t is an I'M
Children come into this world In re-
sponse to and in accordance with natu-
raj. yes divine. law. While the religion
ist may say that the opportunity TO en-
ter this sphere is privilege. the express
sion OF an Intelligent desire for which
there Will continue TO exist all oollga-
tion TO parents mol 10 be Cancelled in this
stage oil existence. the cold philosopher
will insist that the child comes into this
world through no act OF choice or Vohtlon
OF his own. and that his coming brings
with IL no obligation to the parent. For
my purpose, I prefer TO take the latter
view and 20 assume, therefore, that the
parent voluntarily has taken upon him
self the responsibility OF bringing the
child until maturity, up to the highest at
,ainabe realization OF his unfolding pos
Siblities.
In harmony with this point of view the
chld's proper training is his right, and
the parents duty.
Fundamentals In Child Training.
knowledge is not power Every COM
pleted moral impulse must pass through
feeling. thinking deciding and finally do
Ing. Tint is. every moral impulse that
becomes an integral part OF an aggressive.
positive character must pass over from
feeling through thinking. and from think
ing through decision and then crystal
lie into a well defined, properly con-
ceivcd action. thoughtful man once
observed that hell is filled with men OF
his good impulse through the FIRST three
stages and there it ends in decision with
out action. Moral instruction, there
fore. calculated to contribute its quota in
the building of character must find an
carly expression in deed. The conclusion
then is evident that formal. moral instruc-
ton may be hurtful and not helpful. II
wealSens character and does not
strengthen.
Defeats It's Purpose.
fear that dogmatic religious teaching
to young children resolves Itself into
this class. and that IL therefore defeats
the very purpose for which It is intend
ed Consistent and puIposcful religious
and moral teaching must be such as
application. That some children who
have grown up under strict and rather
cocTcive teachings. whether OF conduct
or OF religion. suited only TO adult minds
rebel on reaching their majority against
doctrinal instruction In all forms is
result that should occasion no surprise in
the mind of the thoughtful parent
Instruction so far as practicable Should
be positive and not negative Try to
let the child occupy himself In doing
right and ne will have no occasion TO
do wrong. II he is disposed TO tell some
things not in accord with the facts. give
him frequent opportunity to recite the
details OF incidents with which you are
acquainted and In which you, therefore.
have mutual interest. With your stan
dards OF truth keep him tactfully along
accurate lines and truthfuness may soon
hood may merely be n condition result
Ing from inaccurate perception OF faulty
memory.
Children Are Imitators.
Children are imitators. They are like
ly TO resemble and to initiate their par
ents. and this is their inalienable right
Should this fact be borne In mind con-
stantlyi children might sometimes be
objects OF charity and not of ccnsure
Quiet. refined and mild -mannered par
ents seldom have rough. bosterous and
quarrelsome children. In fact, II children
are quarrelsone and disagreeable in their
association together. you may safely as
sumo that the relations of husband and
wife are not always the personification
vocabulary of children Us frequently an
index 10 the home. And here occasion
ally words speak louder than words.
Children have an inalienable right to
be happy whether they are in the home
or in the school. II the parent remem-
bers that happiness begets happiness he
sunshine into the chid's life brings its
own reward.
Some persons marvel because there
are TO be found such diverse types OF
children In the same household. Yet the
careful observer Will soon discover that
each child Is an expression of not only
OF traits and tendencies that serve TO
give individuality to the father and the
mother, The. important fact, however.
Is that a distinct and separate individu-
alty is found in each child for which
separate course Of thought and care and
treatment Is necessary.
Desirable Virtues.
Among the virtues that should enter
in'o anu oecoH'" IN integral part or q
positive character are these: Personal
purity, truthfuness. patriotism and 10y
atty, honesty; .9efulness, industry
punctuality. self-sstecm respect for 9TH
ers. particularly the aged. polI;eness. re-
liability. cheerfriness. obedience and fl
deity.
The desired end is to be attained
through instruction. example. good read
ing. the childrcn's hour. proper and Iucra-
tive occupation Of children durir- free
periods. good companionship. tovs. tools
and animals, proper food and good sani-
tat.on.
Sick Wife Seeks Husband.
Mrs. r. ]. Arnold OF ST. Louis wires
the police department OF Salt LIKE 10
locate her husband. railroad SWITCH