The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-21
The Modern Boy.

of the fact that the boy OF today is
not the same as the boy of two or
more generations ago. Then the boy
had no redress for his grievances, real
or imaginary He was a victim of cir
cumstances. Master and parent were
of one mind and when the boy did
not live up to the letter of the law,
the perversity of the former often
outclassed the severity of the latter.
Now the boy demands hearing, and
if he does not measure up fully to the
daily requirements of institutional or
home life, he expects nay, rather de-
mands, reasonable considerations!
That he sometimes pleads for too
much is evident; yet the boy has his
rights which must be patiently con-
sidered, and methods of discipline
must be modified to meet this new
condition in the domain of boyhood
The boy has changed; he has acquired
the courage to venture far beyond the
confines of his ancient kingdom, and
at times takes to himself the preroga-
tives of manhood. This is to be eX-
pSCI0u, lOI L1lS UOy 10 6uAuCu NY
pulse rather than reason and pru-
dence has little meaning for him.
This boyish independence must not be
taken for insolence. 1t is nantes
tation of the spirit of freedom which
chafes at restraint and which shows
circumstances, therefore, it must be
expected that the old methods of dis
cipline must undergo change. OF
course, there are some subjects in
boyland of the refractory type, who
must be treated sternly, yes, even Sc
verely, but these are exceptions.
Apart from the evident transforms
ton which the boy has undergone,
and the attitude he has assumed to-
wards authority, there is another fac
tor which the disciplinarian must
recognize He must be acquainted
with the habits, customs, feelings, and
ambitions of his little charges. He
must learn the principles of child
philosophy, otherwise he cannot think
along their lines and would, there.
fore, be unable to sympathize with
them in their troubles, encourage
them in their ambitions and assist
them to develop those latent qualities
for good which exist in the soul OF
every child The disciplinarian must
have a sympathetic understanding OF
the boy whose character he is tC
mould.
Izooninn fhnCn foafc in mind
one can readily understand how I'M
wise it is to expect that the old
rules of discipline will produce the
same results now as they formerly
did However, it is not possible tc
lay down set rules applicable to al
extent, individual. But, if there be
nothing more than general rules by
which the disciplinarian, be he par
ent or teacher, must be governed
there are certain qualifications which
he himself must possess if he woult
which are fatal to any real progress
in true Misunderstanding Among
these it would seem that example
kindness, and justice hold a prominent
place.
Example.
Example is the great moulder O.
youth. No one can expect to stimu
late others to noble action unless hi
first leads the way. He must have
developed the art of self-control ever
under the most trying circumstances
for this is the first quality of a true
gentleman. Example is a forcefu
teacher. One needs but glance bacl
over mis- own life to realize what ;
power for good it is. Therefore thu
moulder of youth should be a person
of good character who always aims a
the highest and never compromise
with principle. The young are yer,
sharp to notice in their superiors an!
weakness or want of self-control
Kindness.
Kindness is strong factor in thu
formation of character. Kindness
goes hand in hand with the broades
charity, the keynote of the highes
ideals of the Christian life. The kind
ness that makes for strength ant
beauty of character is not of tina
criminal kind which permits a DO,
to indulge his evil tendencies, rathe
than run the risk of hurting his fee
ings by correction, but a kindnes
/ based on reason rather than sent
timent-a kindness which looks t
the future good of the boy and whicl
must some times be mingled with
sternness almost amounting to sever
ity. When dealing with the young
one must look to the future welfar
of the individual rather than to hi
present comfort, because a stubbor
or selfish trait must be eradicated
the future man would be free fror
these undesirable qualities. There
more kindness shown to the child b
setting broken limb properly, at tn
cost of pain, than by avoiding tina
pain to let the child grow up maine
for life.
: Justice.
u Justice in the master recognize
merit in the pupil and by putting
premium on right conduct gives tn
young some material value for volur
tary self-denial This idea could b
, easily carried little farther, by show
ing that self-denial leads to physics