The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-12-11
HINTS TO TEACHERS No. 8.
Our Responsibility
(By DR.. Cloyd N. McAllister)

An eminent student of insanity
said few years ago, AT least IS per
cent Of the inmates of the asylums
are there because of their training"
This is serious matter. Think A
large part of the real training"
which our children get is the train
in received in the schools.
Let us look at the list OF crimi-
nails. Where do they come from?
Graduates OF professional schools
and colleges, the bankers, mer-
chants, clerks, bartenders. unskilled
laborers and farmers are found to
make up the largest part Of them.
Very few skilled mechanics or
mothers are found among them.
Does this mean anything?
Our mothers, who are real moth
ers, have learned to work with their
hands; they have done the work Of
the house, cared for the children,
and done many chores about the
place; they have learned to forget
themselves in loving service for
others.
The skilled mechanic has learned
to hold himself in check. to forget
himself, his pains and his WEAKNESS,
in thinking OF the thing he is max
ing. Self is covered and hidden
from view, and his delight is in his
work accomplished.
The professional man is left with
much time on his hands, Never
having acquired skill in manual la
Dor, he has time for thOt of self. He
never worked with his hands, then
to do so now means to degrade him
self. He will get a living without
work. The man who is skillful, and,
as result, enjoys manual labor, is
so full Of thoughts Of other things
that his sel1shness has no chance
for development.
The farmer who is planning to
spend the next rainy day in repair
ing his wagon or pillow, in repairing
the furniture or building some new
bench or other thing to make the
work easier for the wife in the kit
chen, in repairing the old screens
or making new ones for the doors
and windows; who knows how to
repair the buildings and to build
small ones for himself; who knows
how TO lay pipe to carry water
from the spring on the hillside TO
the house below; who knows how to
repair the road to make the haul
ing easier, this man is he who is
happy in his life and free from
crime or other insanity.
All these things the boy may
learn at school if the teacher is
well informed and. wide awake to
the needs OF the life of his district
The girls must be taught to sew
and cook in the most efficient man
ner, and TO do the things necessary
for the health and comfort OF the
home, also how to employ any lei
sure time in making things to beau
tify the home.
Many people from the farms are
placed in the asylums during the
spring months. During the winter
they have been kept in the house.
There was nothing they could do
besides a few chores. They had
never learned to do things with the
hands, and during the days OF bad
weather, they thought OF things that
did not employ the activities OF the
hand. The inactive body during
these months became weaker, and
with the body the mind weakened.
by the time the weather might per-
init OF getting out OF doors. the body
and mind are found TO be so weak
ened they cannot stand the strain
and the patient is taken to a hospi-
tai.
We teachers may show the chill
dren what 10 do about the home.
The parents will catch the spirit of
the children. and the entire home il
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