American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1914-03-28

sunday school can, or was ever, de-
siglIeu 10 suppiant nome trainins.
Even they, though ming useluI
spheres, but supplement- where they
touch the WORK of the father and
mother. 100 much stress cannot be
laid ON this point, that fathers and
mothers are primarily and chiefly
responsible for their own children,
rhe trouble comes, not IN getting
lolks to admit that, but to act on It..
wnen the beautiful flower OF girlhood
withered by the blight of sin, droops
before the mothers eyes, the saddest
OF ali facts is the mothers neglected
responsibility. In her anguish she
would eagerly shift the terrible onus
if she could, but as there was no
authority, so now there is no respon-
sibiiity equal TO hers, and no one OH
whom to throw the burden of her
despair
And yet II would be far from just to
blame the delinquency Of children la
every case upon the parents; form a
multitude OF cases parents Of the most
respectable character, of unquestionea
intelligence and education. who by
Doth precept and example have stri,-
en- to the best OF their ability to train
,heir children In the way they Should
80 so that when old they would hot
ucpart from IL, obeying the scriptu-
raj injunction, have failed miserably
judged from the records of the ju-
,enile courts and the knowledge OF
neighbors. From just such homes
sometimes come some of the worst
offenders, proving that neglect or
indifference are not always respon-
slble.
AS many cases are assigned for
juvenile delinquency as there are dil-
ference types OF mind. different lines
vi thought among the Investigators
some attribute 1t to one cause, some
10 another, but when case is sum
ned up, most likely a number OF sup.
erinducing causes will be found; mrs.
among which, we must agree with
lie article quoted above, comes the
responsibility of parents.
III many-perhaps majority OF
cases-the delinquency. moral imper.
.ections and un'awful acts OF the chic
are due to neither lack OF desire, In.
terest or effort upon the part Of the
parents, who bring all the know.
edge they have to bear upon the sub
JecC ana use their best efforts.
The trouble is that they don't know
enough; and none are more free t
admit II than the candid ones whS
have raised large families and realiz'
heir many mistakes and failures
What ID really needed Is general IA
struction in the psychology Of thu
child, as each one affords separat,
study. The one who essays to govern
ala by the same infexible rules. r.dS
fail In some instances, as there are a
many different temperaments. disDosi
lions and personal idiosyncracies al
there are children, except. possibly. II
the case OF twins.
NO matter how bright they may b,
Intellectually. logic as RUE OF actor
viii not appeal to all. They may reaiiz'
as an abstract principle that this &C
llon Is right. that one wrong; tina
one class OF conduct is elevating. an
Other uebasing; or II they do no
reaiizc 1t through their own reasoiiin,
powers. still accept the theory AS fact
because their parents assure them II II
SO, And yet they do wrong From
this II is evident that something more
Than reason must be Appealed to.
Some parents OF the old-fashione,
order arbitrarily dictate rules TO go,
ern the conduct OF their chiidren, un
der penalty OF bodily punishment To-
,ransgression. They cling to tn,
theory. spare the rod and spoil tn,
child" yet they fail.
Others believe IN personal freedom
IA giving the child full opportunity 10
the development OF it's own individual
lty. Too often this liberty develops
into license. and the child goes wrong
And yet all of these methods hav,
proven OF value when properly applied
aud a judicious mixture OF them ha
Deen most generally successful.
but as something is lacking In eacl
SO is something lacking In them as
whole, when considered from the view
point OF lnfaliibility The true secre
lies In reaching the very heart O
hearts" OF the child. and there gainin
perpetual abiding place TO dwell 4
confidence, esteem and love. Their
] lies the inner spring from which ema
nate the thoughts that govern action
A knowledge OF child's genera
temperament and tendencies may sery