The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-06-17
THE BOY AND GIRL
OUT OF SCHOOL
What Can They Learn I'm the
School of Life

School is out. and a world full of
boys and girls are turned loose for
three months. What use will they
make of their time? This is largely
a matter of what their parents do to
help and direct them. They are en-
titled to play and have recreation
from their school work, but ia each
and every child's life of each and
every day there should be some reg
ular duty to perform. The one saving
clause, or balance wheel, of human
ity is industry. The idea, or hope.
of the fond parent that thee IS
plenty of time; that the boy or girl
will be all right after awhile to learn
about work, or business. is all
wrong. Begin early to teach them
that everybody should have some
regular duty; that the foundation of
future comfort and success lies in
youthful thrift. Teach the boy and
girl to make something for them
selves and save a portion of it, no
difference how small the sum-. and
when this is well grounded in their
minds and habits Of life, there need
be little fear but what they will be
able to look out for themselves when
they grow up and leave the care and
protection of home.
Every boy and girl should be
patiently taught the simple ideas of
business early in life--ideas which
seem simple to grown up folks, hut
which r all new and mysterious
to the child. The parent may won
der why his child should be timid or
fearful about going into a bank to
cash a check, or to go to a store and
ask the price of an article, because
it seems so simple. And vet these
things are mysteries to the child,
who is shy and timid because of ig-
norance and lack of being told or
shown. The father who shows his
child how to do these things, and
talks frankly and encouraginly about
the common transactions of life,
will destroy the cnild's shyness and
fear, which is born of a lack of
knowing how.
And even the bows play may be
so directed as to make a man of him
To keep HIM at nome and away from
all other boys is foolish. because he
must mingIe with the world when
he becomes a man. Better teach
him to DE a strong, fair and honest
boy in his play. Coach HIM to do
his very best fearlessly, at anything
attempted-in any contest which is
proper for him to engage in. And
then, best Of all. teach INN to be a
fair, generous winner or loser.
Persuade him that contests are good
for him to develop both mind and
body; that he can learn both by
failure and success; to keep cool,
level-headed, and determined. Self
possession, self control, is the KEY
note to success. The victory or de-
feat of day is but an incident of
life. Both are needed to round out
a full character with poise and self
reliance, without which the boy or
man gives way to the hy~sterical
passion or impulse of the unframed
which men call foolish.
You want your boy to be a man
among men when he reaches mans
estate. Help him. and show him
how. He doesn't know.
As the insect from the rock
Takes the color of its wing.
As the boulder from the shock
of the oceans rhythmic swing.
Makes itself a perfect form.
Learns TO calmly front all scorn.
Even so for every soul.
Whatsoever its lot may be-
Building as the heavens roll.
Something large and strong and Free
Things that hurt in younger days
Shape the man for perfect praise"