Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-06-11
w. C. T. u
THE MORAL PROBLEM OF THE
CHILDREN.

Geo. III. Davis of Barton.
The moral problem of the children
has been. is, and always will be, prob
lem remaining unsolved. only SO far as
we mothers and fathers individually
are able each in his own way and &C.
cording to his best lights able to solve
this important question. / am not
here to tell you how to solve this prob
lem, nor yet do expect my one little
effort will bring about revolution
along this line. There have been and
are now master minds who have stud
led the subject thoroughly and they
| have not arrived at satisfactory con-
clusion. This is the day of personal
experiences and as we all enjoy listen
ing to true stories instead of theories,
| will give you the benefit of some of
my personal efforts. For the past few
years it has been learned by our emf
nent physicians that our boys and girls
can not be morally and mentally we'll
unless their bodies are in sound and
healthy condition. We have doctors
and dentists who are giving their time
in some cases, and employed by the
school board in many instances, to make
examinations of our children as to their
eyes, ears and teeth and general bodi-
ly condition. to see that no immoral
tendencies and mental deficiencies are
| caused by physical imperfections. We
| cannot all be educated physicians,
neither is it necessary that we should
! be college educated mothers and
fathers, but in these days of so much
good reading at little expense, there is
no excuse whatever for ignorance on
the part Of any of us as to few good
common-sense rules. One can hardly
pick up paper but that they see a
| short sketch on the advantages of pure
fresh air, good ventilation, keeping
| the feet warm and the head cool. deep
breathing and physical culture in some
form or other. Now we none of us
need a college education to heed few
of these suggestions but a whole lot of
| sound common sense. | thoroughly be-
lieve that all these things have an i'm
portant bearing on the moral condi-
tons. All this can be taught in the
home as we'll as in the schools. Our
children can be taught at a very early
age to admire and initiate only the
best in everything. We can surround
them with only the best in amusements
and reading. I hear once in while
a mother who complains that her child
does not like to read. Depend upon it
that mother does not like to read her
self. believe our boys and girls can
be taught fondness for a little good
reading, if not in one line then in
some other according to the bent of
the child, but see to it that it is of
the right sort. A great influence
either for good or bad is exerted on
the lives of our youth by the litera-
ture that enters our homes. 1t is up
to you mothers and fathers to see
what your boys and girls are reading.
A had hook ic than a ha6
panion in its influence on our young
people. [ have no authority for max
ing the statement, but it is simply my
opinion, arrived at after some little
experience of my own
There are too the different forms of
amusement which each in their turn
may have good and bad side to them.
When the moving pictures first ap-
peared / presume most of US were
prejudiced against them. Now even
the schools and churches are consider
ing this form of entertainment as a
means of education and keeping the
young life in the church. | realize
that good deal is said and written of
the mothers responsibility until We
feel nearly weighed down by our bur-
that we as mothers are in a great de-
gree responsible for our fu ture citizens
1t is all well enough to legislate and
provide for the external conditions but
we as good housekeepers know that
when we start in our annual crusade of
housekeeping we always begin in and
work out. We see to it that our cup.
boards and closets are thoroughly
cleaned before we sweep the floors and
wash the windows. Just so this moral
problem must be handled. We must
first be God fearing and responsible
fathers and mothers before we can ex-
pect our offpsring to be of that type
The keynote in all this is that one word,
responsibility" Until we impress
upon one generation that whatever
they do. not only affects their we'll
being but has an influence on the fu-
ture generations, we cannot expect to
make any great Roadway on this prob
lem. Children are apt to be more i'm
pressed with how their acts are going
to injure others than the injury they
sustain.
When you find mother and ia
Their who feel their es possibility,
then you may rest assured that thought
and care are being given to the child S
training. We are apt to be little
careless and take too many things for
granted A great deal of this immoral
condition can be remedied if the moth
ers can retain the confidence of their
children. In fact, something is wrong
if we ever lose their confidence.
When the first questions as to their or
igin are asked, answer them truthfully
and see to it that we as parents are
the first ones to enlighten them and
not allow them to obtain their first
impressions from the wrong source.
Now let us not be selfish and say with.
in ourselves, eff my son or daughter
is all right l won't worry about my
neighbor's children" None of us can az.
} ford to feel that way, for if for no other
motive than self protection we must
awaken and exert ourselves to the fact
, that our children will soon be out in
! the world and choosing their own
friends. We are all familiar with the
, old saying, ''Forewarned is fore
armed" Therefore we must train anc
instruct our children in such a manner