Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-11
'TRaDlNC THE BAD BOY T.
OUT OF WICKED MANNER
DR.. William a. McIiccvcr Suggests
X Plan for Handling Boys
That Balk,
HIS RULE FOR TRAINING
Holds That If You Want Child to
Do Something for You. IL Is
Necessary 10 DO Something for
Him.
BY DIR. M,r. A. ,lcI<EEvER.

What would yoyi think OF the idea
of trading a bad" boy out OF the So
called wickcdness:
What would YOU think OF the idear
of inducing a young person TO perform
something No dislikes 10 DO by tying
the task up with something he most
ardcntly desires TO do?
What would YOU think of the idea
of reforming a hardened wrong doors
by leading irim carefully and con-
structively into a Inc OF work which
would make his heart leap with JOY:
What would you tihul1 of the idea
of having all the bad" boys of the
school sent into the class of a happy
singing teacher in order TO have their
evil tendencies corrected through the
influence OF the music, THIS is pre-
ciscly wha; ] have found in a primary
school OF Middle States city. Here
four or five of the unruly. truant type
of small boy are practically under an
agreement to bc .ameEablc TO the dis
cipline OF the school for the privilege
OF staying with the special music class.
In the case here considered ii is very
easy TO understands why the music
hath. charms 10 sootlc the savage
Breast Miss H. the song leader. is
the chavminS subtle force back of it
ALL Her radiancc rhythinic energy
aNQ appCIlllNS voice as Sie ConuuCls
the singing produces a wonderful cleo
trifying effect upon the boys a,ld girls.
NO time during tho cntirc tenn have
l ever had TO rebuEc reNen correct
the conduct OF any child in the class
said she. SO FAR as | have bccL able
70 observe there are no had chlldrcn
IN the group.
Rule for Training.
Now. it is a-rule OF trainins and In
struction that VI YOU want a child TO
do the square thing by YOU ii is nccos-
sary 10 do something for him. There
must be trade OF some Of YOU
actually wha; constituted the transact
ton here For the favor OF being al
lowed 10 sing with the happy class
group OF hovs We're giving up their
so-c;,lIed badness in another place.
Quick. alert. radiant Rhythmic. force
full syinpathe tic--thcSs. rather than
The qualities which combined in the
character of Miss Il, ana ny means OF
which! she made tho bed boys Of the
school sing themselves into good boys
But here tho lesson or the vision.
begins 20 expand. WhY no; apply this
law OF t-rN7rcSsi"n as corrective
WHY 80 much forcing scolding. nag
EtnS and suppression IN order To make
. Child learn or bc good OF what
real worth 10 the world is boy or
4 man who is good because ne cannot
help himself, or from the mere force
o: reNresslNc Circun stances" Cannot
and mind through the eager and self
directive practice OF the individual
himself?
sinsin- Prove, Charm
II tho suhtl. charm OF group sing
in5 may be made 10 correct certain
typos OF juv.lilc mischief. why not
Ho!rCct the tcdium OF work with the
hatiiness Il pla." WHY not correct
The dru.gcly of common labor with
the jos Of - llnrovided common fell
10" snip. Why not correct the early
tendency 20 commit crime through the
"Arl% and carefully directed practice
OF doing good?
II short is there not a possible
charm. an amor supcrbncss, potcn-
iia' radiance. Il delightful symphony OF
combined .Ovc and action which may
hc rot to orr in every ordinary life
N0G finally made splendid scIf-cor-
receive d al he evil tendencies which
W2!!d @prlng Up therein?
oT.ly. rents, here is new APP
ricnt'"n ut The old proverb:
&c not overcome OF evil but over
como cvi! with good"