The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-22
The Power of Example.

| Inc ROVER Oh Example.
A great many persons who deem them
| selves good parents, fall far short of
| this IDEAL 1t is true that they may
exercise close watch upon the health
and general conduct of their children.
| They may teach them to observe the
ordinary moral precepts; they may see
to it that they eat properly and that
they are suitably clothed; they may in
sis1 that they take the necessary
amount Of sleep. All these things are
important, but they do not represent
the parents entire duty toward the
child 1t is not enough to do this, ii
this is all that is done. In addition,
the child must have. the advantage OF
i good example, not only in the more
common affairs OF life, but in some
things that ire too often neglected.
Nothing is OF more importance TO
child than to learn the Importance of
telling the truth, Here example plays
vital part in the work OF education.
Without example, of what use can it
be to preach about truth-tellngg The
child has merely to keep his eyes and
ears open to see that the father, or
mother teaches one thing and practices
another. And there are so many ways
in which we can act the lie. So many
little demands are made upon us that
we wish to eyade, and to escape them,
We say something that is not true, often
without regard to the fact that youth
full eyes are watching us. that YOUTH
ful ears are drinking in the thoughtless
" ords that stamp us as untruthful.
A childs conduct toward other per-
sons will exert a strong influence for
success or failure in later years, There
Is the ability to control his temper
the marks of courtesy that count for 30
much in life-the little acts of un-
selfishness and thoughtfnIness that
make the possessor loved. All these
things may be taught by word without
making much impression upon the
youthful mind, but when they are taught
by eXample-by personal acts on the
part of the older members of the house,
hold-they leave an impression that is
never forgotten.
So far as intellectual development Is
concerned, child is destined to be
shaped to a great degree by the books
he reads. The school life-even though
it may be carried through the univer-
sity--can be nothing more than work
Of preparation for the real life. If
proper advantage is taken of the edu-
cational opportunities that the schools
present, the child NAV learn how to
study, but the actual work of develop
ment begins when the school days end.
Then it is the tendency of the child's
mind that counts, and, if the love for
reading has been cultivated, the child's
mind has been guided in the right direc-
lion there is no limit to the possihil-
titles of growth.
1t is here that we have one of the
grave parental responsibilities, and, un-
for tunately for the children, this is the
phase of the educational question that
IS too often neglected Reading moth
ing but truth themselves, parents do
not exercise any Judgment in suggest
ing books for their children. | know
Of homes in which the children are
never urged to read-in which they are
permitted to select their own reading
no comment is made,
however injurious these books may be.
Health counts in child's life--eth-
cal ideals count-courtesy counts; but
{ the child is to become successful
f the most is to be made of lfe--the /
natter of intellectual development must
lot be disregarded In this, as in every
hing else. example counts for more than
You may tell your boy to be
rood. but if he knows that you your
elf are not good-that you do not
i've up to the ideals you set for him
here is mighty little chance that he
vii follow your sdviee.-New York
ilobe.
Dorothy Dexter.