The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-04-09
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THE DOCTRINE OF DON'T
By Sophie Irene Loeb
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There is a mother in this city,
friend of mine, who is making the
mistake of her life in the rearing OF
her children in one respect.
She has boy and girl whom she
idolizes. But she has so long instllled
in them the doctrine OF Don't" that
she has practically made little cow
ards of them.
This was most noticeable at a gath
eringnot long since, in which these
two children were so different from
the other as to draw attention TO
them. The most charitable expers-
sion made was that they were very
backward" and little scared" Yet
not even at the end of the evening
were these cheldren at home with the
others.
The cause in this case is easily flx-
ed. These children are forever con-
fronted with the cry of Don't.
Don't paly with the neighbors
children" they are told. Don't DO
this" Don't do that" Don't join
in the games at school-come right
home"
And the mother continues to tell
them such fearsome things about
these "don'ts" that the children ac-
tually lose all freedom of action.
Even in the most harmless childish &C
tivities they are practically outcasts.
They hardly know how to play unless
their mother is right on the job.
| wonder how long this mother in
tends to police their lives. If she pro-
ceeds in this fashion very long they
E will need her forever, and woe TO
| them when the day comes that they
= must needs stand alone.
This is all folly. Of course, it is
: necessary to take precaution IN or
I der that children may avoid the com
: mon, everyday pitfalls, but it is much
: better to let them get their childish
humps and make their mistakes thar
to insist on their avoiding too much
u The doctrine of don't, when adher
|. ed to too closely, kills initiative
e throttles energy and very often pro
notes the very things that on woult
wish to avoid.
= After all, the natural instinct of
: child is to be active and use his nv
/ senses theoretically.
f He is naturally curious. If thes'
= traits are not properly satisfied ne i
prone to be not only backward CHILE
Z but one who may keep his own eoun
:, sci in any wrongdoing and not under
is stand that he is doing wrong.
l. Th,re is a certain amount OF free
: dom that must be accorded growing
youth. It's natural demands in thl
Il res oect may not be discouraged with
t out detriment.
n Children whose parents are S
a. cal, I'd "strict" are very often thos
a., l..rer in life are pointed out a
those who had to have their fling.
III 1t is the same with grown-ups Tn
If constant cry of don't" is often tn
I'd very thing that makes them do In
r thing that is prohibited is usually tn
&C most desirable.
- On the other hand, the dostrine G
do is an incentive for accomplishment
of It invites confidence. 1t inspires hop
e, When people know that they will nc
he be stopped from doing a thing the
10 thing they ought to do and that the
good friend will stand by them an
III 90 through with them, great spir
10 of helpfulness is established
a Even though mistakes may
~ n dc. the burden of having bee
warned by "don't" is so great
times as to drag down into such d
IS spair as to make hope difficult, II nj
ey impossible, to rise again.
W. There are those in the world WI
ar are forever trying to stop things
the fear of the bugaboo of failure.
They are constant harbingers of
us They are the ones who keep peop
It's back from striking out in the tiel'
in of fruitfulness and the avenues
~ endeavor. 1t is wise to be wary
them.
What this world needs more ths
c. ANYTHING else is not preachers
w "don't," but practical people who te
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