The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-04-08
FATHER AND SON.

4.4AKE 4NIHEa rEtEL
has no been told what was the diff
ference between father and son and
80 there il no opportunity to pass
Judgment upon the prorocation un-
der which the boy committed his
very serious Offense. but it Is not
necessary to do that.
Neither Is III necessary to condone
the act of the youth In order to
bring into question the wisdom OF
corporal punishment as it is admin
istered. 1t requires more discretion,
more s~elf-control. better Judgment,
to employ corporal punishment in
training q child properly thar it does
to refrain entirely from its use. For
the parent only adds to his responsib-
iltties when he takes 1t upon himself
to resort to physical chastisement.
This is true for the reason Tint the
difference in size and strength be-
tween the parent and the child is all
that makes corporal punishment pos
sible. II the boy were as big as the
father and rs strong, would the
father even consider turning him
over his knee and spanking him-or
trying to do It?
So, II physical punishment is made
possible only by superiority In
strength, then it must have some
other good reason to justify it, For
surely It is not. . mans part to
.'pick on some n not his size," as
the saying goes
However, the mere possession OF
superior physical strength may lead
+ to the indulgence of anger in cor
poral punishment? And how can
any good come from a rebuke admin
istered in. anger? sa1nAeed it ris open
to question A@Whether4-corporal pun
ishment Is ever entirely free from
every trace Of wrath. For to slap a
child may express nothing more than
that we are provoked with him. and
II w are provoked and believe in
the propriety of corporal punishment
We are likely to resort to it not in
frequently. That is why it is true
that 1t is q very difficult thing IL
use corporal punishment proper1,
and for the best. good Of the child
It Id perhaps still more difficult tt
use 1t for the best good Of the parent
The child has his character, what
ever 1T may be. He has his individual.
ity and 1t is o N the average just as
pronounced as that Of either Of his
parents. He has his likes and his
dislikes. lust as do his parents. HI
has his trials and displays his virtues
in quite the same way as do his ED
ers. He Is lacking In experience ant
so 10 not accurate In determining rel
!. alive values. But, with his light ant
under the instruction that he ha'
had, he is making Roadway. Whel
he does wrong, it is often a question
whether he needs punishment 81
much as he does help. IL the paren
will recognize that it is q solemn
duty with him to guide and instruc
his children. to attempt to assis
them along the new roado they ar
travelling, and at all times to mani
fest to them the love they would re
ceive In reurn-if the parent doe
all this, will he not hesitate q long
long time before he strikes tn
childf
InGmore than one home the lar
ents. are in quite - great need o
training as the children. They ma
learn from their own offspring !
their minds are open TO receive. An
II they 60 through life without gain
ing In knowledge and affection froI
their own children: It is a safe CUES
that they have not given their iii
tie ones the kind of care they shout
have.
M><
At least .sbig business" should b
given credit for developing a might
formidable temperance sentiment
the United States. And It is chief
@s8b ecause .s.big business bars th