Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-11-28
WHAT DO YOUR CHILDREN DO
AFTER SCHOOL HOURS?

child spends his daylight hours,
evenings after school, and will
give you a suggestion as to his
probable future as manager of
his own affairs, and more than
suggestion of your present ability
as manager of child-training.
The parting of the ways n char
acter development and in life's
serious business often has its be-
ginning at point between and
and p. m. after the dismissal of
the daily schools session, Watch
this period sharply in the career
of your child, as it probably means
far more for the future than the
future than the arithmetic or Eng
lish lesson, about which you per-
nit yourself to be SO deeply con-
cerned.
Note this contrast: Two sixth
grade boys and seventhgrade
girl pass nearby street corner at
1920 each evening on their way
from school,. One could set his
watch by their movements either
evening or morning and not miss
the time far Another group, vary
ing from three to five middlegrade
boys, may be found almost any
where after school
They never go directly home nor
do they have any set plan or pur-
imprisonment The real part Of
pose for their out-of -scho0l hours.
10 them school is daily period of
their life comes when they are turn
ed loose. But what they do with
the valuable evening hours may be
considered as an ideal course in
vagrancy Here is their schedule
for last week:
Monday--Got some apples from
a suburban orchard without the
knowledge or consent of the owner.
Tucsday-ON the streets till
dark, visiting stores and seeing
whatever might happen. One boy
is good spender, so they had
plenty of goodies to eat.
Wednesday Spent an hour throw
ing green walnuts--not their own
lat the sparrows which Inhabited
ted a barn loft. A dog which fool
ishly came that way got his share
of the wa.nuts.
Thursday-Four of them in a
wooded back lot smoking cigarettes.
A new bag Of tobocco and new
boy learner are the center of inte-
rest.
SO the program of drifting and
dcviltry continues, through no fault
of the boys, but for want of def
mite plan of management. Many
thousands of boys and some girls
are the victims OF such wrong treat
ment.
What can be done by busy well
meaning parents to correct the err
ror? The following is suggested:
First train your child to the hab-
it of coming directly home after
school. Make your request insis-
tent and emphatic. 1t will surprise
and please you 10 observe how
quickly he will acquire this habit
ad continue it agreeably.
J Always have a definite motive
/ for calling your child so directly
home-to play with baby, to brush
down the stairs, to clean up his
room, 10 look after the chickens, to
60 to the gr0cer's, and the like.
If your child already has the bad
habit of lettering after school you
must partly entice him to return
promptly. Why not give here a
half hour Of your busy time, mother
/ to the important duty Of playing
with your child. He is worth more
than all the extra sewing and scrub
hing Get cut and romp with him
regularly, calling two or three
neighbours children to Join you.
II is not sufficient excuse for
the parent to contend that there
is nothing for his child to do after
school Responsibility cannot be so
lightly tossed aside. Invent some
thing. Search the place through
for regular task.
Ask for suggestions from others.
Call at The library for help. Write
to some magazine or other author
ity for assistance. Do not remain
guilty of neglecting the after-schoOI
training of your child for another
single day.
He is already disobedient, you
say. Then. likely, he will also be
a sort of outlaw. Go after him
rough shod, if necessary. Bring
him to tine. Fight this thing out