Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-03-10
TALK ON ADOLESCENCE
Read by Mrs. Summers Before the
West Side Parent-Teachers'
Association.

the parents. Indeed, after mature
reflection ! am inclined to believe
it the greatest problem, for if the
child's inheritance were all that
could be desired, giving it a healthy
body with sound instincts and a fa-
vorable environment for its growth,
the problem of adolescence would be
small. So we see the problem is
really our own, and the saying, ITO
train a child, begin with its grand
father" is more truth than jest.
Some of you may not agree with me
that the parents are not all that they
should be, and are really to blame,
but your presence here assumes that
adolescence is a problem for discus
sion, and you at least admit if there
we're no parents there would be no
childhood.
Adolescence is the period from the
beginning of puberty to and beyond
its completion-roughly, from II to
1S-though the period is often pro-
longed. 1t is the renaissance-the
rebirth of the child. Its body
changes it's structure, and with the
profound bodily change occurs an
equally wonderful development of
the emotions and the intellect. The
intensity of the physical stress is re-
flected in the feelings, the imagina-
tion Quickens, and the world opens
glorious and golden as with the lift
ing of the curtain of darkness by
the dawn. With the development of
the sex sense at this period comes
an interest in nature and religion,
and an overmastering curiosity both
individual and general. The social
sense develops and gradually a sense
of independence and desire in the
child to rule his own life. The child
becomes the man and makes its con-
fidant its fellow, rather than its par
ent 1t is time of idealization and
exaggeration, of fleeting fancies and
instability. And as all the senses
are exalted and easily influenced for
good or evil, it is the most impor-
tant and most difficult period with
which the parents have to deal.
Health is, of course, the funda-
mental. The food should be simple,
generous in amount and variety,
neither rich nor highly seasoned, and
the time of the meal should be a
pleasure to the child and never an
/ hour for criticism. Clothes should
be sufficient but not too warm, and
| fresh air is an essential. Exercise
! is exceedingly important and the
child's gregarious sense must be fur
thered rather than thwarted. II re-
pressed in this our children will
break away from us and become de-
ceitful in satisfying their desire for
companionship. Make your chill
dren's friends welcome at your home,
and the undesirable companions will
recognize their alien quality and
drop away.
We must never cease to remember,
so far as possible, the desires of our
own youth and guide and direct by
entering into the interests of our
children at this period, if we would
not lose them prematurely and for
ever. Home, in their awakened
state, may become dull to them, and
we must devise and enter into out
side amusements with them, keeping
their friendship as well as their filial
love. If they feel we lack sympathy
and understanding. their confidence
in us is gone and our power to in
tluence them vanished.
Life is opening to them and is
wonderful to their curious eyes. All
their experiences are intensified and
lack our sense of proportion. The
"i"i oSh'iiCh'n ald nut inherent,
but must be cultivated. Their curl
osity must be satisfied and direct
ed, so far as we are able. Naturally
and without undue emphasis care
tul parent may explain the mysteries
of generation in the plants and ami
mails and something of the laws OF
; heredity, taking the proper moment
when it comes to extend the knowl-
edge to that of man.
Il Their reading must be carefully
watched and the problem novels OF
) the day kept from them, and many
5 OF the modern magazines examined
before being placed in their reach
Yet If this is not tactfully done, ant
the interests of the child for what
e may be called emotional literature
r satisfied, the purpose will be de
, teated. 1t is better to suggest a wild,
D range of books or place them at hant
: than to try to force any book o.
t books upon the child Poetry, espec
= tally OF lyrical sort, is apt to NEE
: the childs needs at this age, and /
the interest can be gained, lifeloni
taste established.
If the child shows any bent or in