The Washington times., 1915-05-26
TO the Editor Of the Magazine Page;

To the Editor Of the Magazine Page:
erHAT the coming method Of child
I, II culture Is to be individualistic in
Its character is patent to all who
~. have followed with any degree
of interest the progress Of educators
That the parents of the child must be
taken, to their responsibilities In the
matter is imperative If success is to
crown the efforts of these same edu-
Gators, ! ...-
When such prodigy as Miss Stoner
can be produced from intelligent
handling from birth. mothers may well
open their eyes to the possibilities which
lie before them in the guidance Of their
children through the early years of
their lives Not that all Of our children
with the same opportunity could by any
means. become Miss stoners. Far
from it. &S}", = ~
Neither in my Judgment would it be
the part of wisdom to permit anyone
but a mother deliberately to implant
wisdom sin the shape of Latin and
Greek to the mere babe before 1t had
shown some symptoms Of individuality.
A mother may be safely trusted with her
own, and the mother who. gifted as
Mrs. Stoner undoubtedly Is, sacrifices
her own personal ambitions. to give
such undivided attention to the educa-
ton OF her child has followed her sixth
sensetand could not go wrong. The re-
suit was to have been expected.
I The Average Mother.
The mothers who either have the time
Capitalization to follow her example
are, unfortunately exceedingly rare.
Few. too. fhave the mental equipment
which would make such o course pos
yrr. HI, |, zoe
all the mothers can do, and that is 10
place no hindrance in the way of the
natural growth of their children's
minds: and here again 1t Is the eS-
ceptfonal mother who does not do 80
The average mother IS 50 ensrossed
In things outside her family. such as
card clubs, church activities. parties
and theaters, that she has but little
time to stay at home and study and
observe her own children.
Freed from the feeling of fear which
alas, too many children hold for their
parents a child will develop natu-
rally, say honestly what he thinks and
feels. and show bv his preferences and
plays the career for which he was In
tended.
It may not be at all the career fol
which the parent has designed his child
but it is the one nature planned fo1
in other directions inharmony is started
and the parent. If his child is of stront
and dominant character, wakes up SOM
day to find himself, not only thwartet
in his desires for his son or daughter
but minus its love. and sympathy.
- For Self Expression.
We find It hard to love any one who
continually thwarts and hinders oul
acknowledgment, and If the parent
does this. even in ignorance, he must
expect his child to turn to others more
able to understand. for sympathy and
help.
If the child is weak in character and
unable to maintain his individuality II
the face of criticism and opposition from
his parents, then he will suffer. no,
knowing why. and bodily ailments will
undoubtedly follow the breaking of ma
lures laws. for to be well we must be
happy. and to be happy VIC must be
free to follow the call within us and de
velop self-expression.
Some are so strong and the call withir
so insistent that obstacles must give
way before them, parental ties b,
broken II necessary, that their. geniu
be developed: but these are the few
The spark of genius burns too freel!
in most Of us. to. inspire us with th'
couragei and belief in ourselves to over
come the obstacles that loom so larg'
in our pathway. ';
But with a guidance, sympathy, ant
understanding each individual ma!
drift Into the. work that he loves. ant
as the work~that he loves is but play