Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-05-27
(From Fridays Daily.)
Mother Voices Her Views.


fo= all kinds of trouble and an
noyance. but one never gets things
clean by using cold water alone.
Perhaps it was this idea that
prompted the Journal-Miner in its
editorial column of last Sunday
morning. At least, there seemed to
be conscience behind its sword
stroke. and for that reason we have
stopped to think
Twenty years ago my husband
and l started our married life with
many castles in the air, the most
important of which was our deter
mination to give our children such
an education and environment as
would help to counteract any evil
tendency that might through inner
itance be given them by our past
life. When our children were born,
the days and nights were given
to contemplation of their future.
Like every man who loves his chill
dren, my husband looked back
through his past life and thought
of the weakness of his own flesh
that might be exaggerated in his
offspring, and accordingly gave up
his moderate use Of alcoholic bever-
ages, not that he thought it wrong
to drink a glass of liquor, but on
account of the associations, he did
not feel he could bring into his
home as an example TO his children.
I likewise gave up a good many
things, not because l thought them
wrong in themselves, but because
experience had taught me that their
environment as a rule had done me
more harm than good.
As our children grew Oder I'VE
could see their inherited tendencies
like wild flowers peep through
the moss-break forth here and
there. We knew their power of
discrimination would not be fully
developed until maturity. and it
is a family trait that we mature
late. We knew that if we could
keep our influence until then, we
would have no cause to fear.
We have lived very carefully,
foregoing many pleasure, so that
when the twilight comes and day
is done. we might feel that we kept
them in the path Of decency, in
tegrity and strong character We
have watched, therefore. with a
deep interest. the development of
our children and the effect of their
environments. We have found that
every influence contrary to our
teaching of morals in the home has
implanted in their hearts not a
feeling Of their parents judgment
being wronged but rather feeling
of disgust with us. that such a re-
Election could be cast upon our
judgment. They are beginning TO
have secrets, keeping from us those
things they know we disapprove of.
We are being relegated to the "Old
Fogy" list.
How well l know from expert
ence the truth OF the following
statements: That a public school
should first teach the children that
they perfectly comply with the will
OF their parents in order to exact
discipline and respect at both ends;
their want of judgment makes them
susceptible to that which has been
forbidden. thereby defeating the
aim of the school. and the influ-
ence OF the home, that there should
be no choice that would make the
child suffer or either disobey the
principles it has been taught in the
home" And who will deny that
boy with red blood in his veins
will not refrain from doing that
which the rest Of his school mates
are doing
That the statements in the edi-
torial are only too true. needs no
affirmation. We do not wish to
blame these things upon our teach
ers. 1t is rather the fault of a
system which teaches our children
that duty must be accompanied by
pleasure. They are being taught
to look for "the easy side of life"
and they look with disgust if asked
to do anything that does not carry
with it a thrill.
We spend every year good
many hundred dollars OF the tax
payers money, for athletics and
amusements. in order that our chill
dren might come home too tired
TO do the chores. or study. We
give plays and operas and tax their
endurance. thereby making them
nervous and dissatisfied. We spend
10000 in order to keep the sun