The weekly times-record., 1913-04-03


their minds on a few we'll chosen
plays given in this way.
The public dance halls filled with
gay young people in the search OF
pleasure are poor substitute for the
old dances OH the village green in
which the old as well as young par
ticipated. Chaperonage then was not
a social duty but natural. How many
mothers have not said when it is too
late, II had no idea my daughter was
going to public dances. The always
told me she was spending the night
with a friend" Mothers, form a
closer companionship with your daugh.
ters thay you might know in whose
company she attends the dance, play
or even lecture and school entertain
ment.
How can we remedy these evils?
Public games might easily be carried
ont in park or athletic field which
will furnish the imaginative material
supplied by the theater and also af.
ford the activity which the cramped
muscles Of the city child needs. Al
ready some of our American cities
are making beginning toward bet,
ter forms of public recreation. Bos-
ton has its cricket fields, gymnas.
iums and golf grounds. Chicago has
seventeen parks with play fields,
gymnasiums and baths. Our schools
are doing much toward forming bet.
ter ideals by celebrating the nation.
al holidays, the changing seasons, the
birthdays Of heroes and the planting
of trees with suitable exercises.
We admit that the child is the fu
ture citizen. Can we then afford to
allow them to lead such complex
lives as may arise from pampering
their wants and indulging them with
harmful amusements. The child
should be educated for life. The aim
of their education should be to aid
them to become active members of
humanity.
When the education of the child be-
gins he is held by impressions of the
present Who then shall put him in
the way he should go? The parents
and the teachers. The function of the
educator is to watch, to guide, to
keep firm hand for without author
ity there is no enducation.
Children should be taught to respect
their parents, grandparents and eld-
ers and we make mistake in think
ing children do not wish to show re-
spect The child wishes to admire
and respect something. But in order
to have respect we must be worthy
Of it. when by your own practices
you have brought about the lessening
of respect in your children you have
suffered a great loss."
Simplicity in life should be carried
out in outward appearances. Dress
simply. Though your wealth would
permit you to dress your children
handsomely remember the evil which
might arise through vanity. Do not
allow them to dress beyond your
means and theirs or give them to un-
derstand that they are superior to
you by clothing them better than
yourself. Is it any wonder then that
they end by distaining you.
Children should not be brought up
to dispose work or the simple spirit
of their fathers. Sons should not feel
disgust for the occupation of their
fathers; and daughters should not
be ashamed to walk the streets with
their parents as is often the case. "A
society is health when the children do
nearly what his parents have done
before him but doing it better and
looking toward future elevation"
Education should make independent
men. Wagner says, "If you wish to
train your children for liberty, bring
them up simply. Be temperate in
your methods of entertaining youth.
Food, dress, amusements-let all be
as natural and simple as possible"
A TEACHER.