Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-04-09
Home Influence Upon the Character Of
the Child.


THE following paper was prepared
and read by Mrs. G. S. Stevens before
the members of the Mothers club)
We pay q large sum in these days
for corrupt office holders and imper-
feet government, but we. pay q much
larger sum for ignorant homemakers
and imperfectly organized families.
No governmentecan hope to approach
perfection in even a small degree, un-
less the homes which support it are
striving for the same ideal.
The source Of the fountain OF life OF
every government is within it's indi-
vidual homes. If the springs of their
conduct be muddied all national life
will be similarly effected. Parents do
not always comprehend these facts
Government, what is called the state,
that which stands for taxes, police reg
ulations, battleships, peace or war
with other nations, schools and
churches, can not create itself charac-
ter. It can only be created, main
tanned and given character. through
the will and character of father and
mother and the children they bear.
The boy sprawling on the street cor
ners with cigarette dangling on his
stained lips is just as much cOntribu-
tor to the character of government as
you and who may endeavor to think
and live better than they.
1t behooves US then to consider what
influence home has upon the character
of the child and what family loyalty
means. 1t seems to be very essential
if children are to acquire family loyalty
through the pride of character, they
may transmit to the good of the state
that neither father or mother should
ever be subjects of criticism before
fault? Yet what is the effect upon
family spirit of persistent criticism OF
one or both parents. Children do not
begin life with the thought that eithel
parent is wrong. Their first knowledge
of authority and obedience to it eman
ates from the parents.
Gradually as power of discrimination
comes to them they discern that the
father makes the outside battle of life
and the mother the inside contest
Food. clothing, shelter. money in peck
ct and bank, land, crops and cattle
are all involved in these dual efforts
put forth by two for their children anC
for themselves.
But the child S initial idea of family
integrity is splintered when it discov
ers that these efforts are persistently
under fire within it's own home circle
Some of the natural and healthy ideals
it has cast about the father are gone
forever. Some of the normal illusions
it has entertained of mother become
ugly commonplaces.
Within its own mind it passes from
wholesome thoughts of family integrit.
to irritations of contempt and discord
No mother can afford to criticize
bicker or bait the father of her owl
children before them, any more thai
he can afford for future good of hom
or state to hold her up to ridicule.
The tendency to home criticism o
this character is usually more feminjn
than masculine in it's origin. The av
erage man is less apt to criticize hi
wife before his children than she him
Family integrity does not merely tax
in father, mother and children tu
reaches out to grandparents, uncle
and aunts and cousins. Children
watching parents respect each othe
kindly in their relations, not only alb
sorb that respect, but extend it to tn
other factors of the family unit. w
gain then the helpful spectacle of fam
lily unity extending through more tina
one generation and not confined to on