The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-08-05
THE LITTLE CITIZEN
BY william A. Blair.

Our orators, editors and self-ap-
pointed patriots dwell at length upon
the wonderful opportunities, priyi
leges and benefits which we enjoy in
our great democracy. Rights and priv
ileges are on every tongue; but far
too little is said about duties and re-
sponsibilities which must always be
commensurate with rights. The old
Spartan idea that the child belongs
to the state and that the state was en-
titled to something from him might
well have some consideration today.
A father recently told me that he
was educating his two boys, one to
become a lawyer and the other
preacher. In other words, he was
training his boys for good citizenship.
One boy was to be a good citizen prac-
ticing law, the other was to be a good
citizen preaching.
The home is a little democracy, the
school a larger one, the world a still
greater. The small child should be
taught to be a good citizen in the
home, later in the school and when
he is graduated out into the world he
will naturally continue right activity.
Men are but children of a larger
growth" In the home the child should
have certain regular tasks to perform
and should be taught that he must
attend to them conscientiOusly The
care of pets, plants, flowers and of
younger children, the responsibility of
performing certain household duties
develops strength of character.
Possession teaches generosity, for
without possessions of his own, how
can the child learn to share and ap-
preciate the difference between mine
and thine? If his property, his rights,
his little treasures are respected he
will soon see why he should regard
and respect the rights of others.
Possession entails responsibility for
the care and use Of property. The
small boy who leaves his picture book
outdoors over night and discovers in
the morning that it has been stolen
or rain-sOaked realizes that the mis-
fortune is his own fault If he is rough
with his toys and breaks them he must
learn to be more careful. If he does
not feed his pet rabbit, it dies, if he
fails to care for his garden, the flow
ers are soon choked with weeds.
In training the child, his opinions
should be respected and parents
should take time and have patience to
show him wherein he is right or
wrong. He certainly cannot always
have his own way, now nor in the fu-
ture; therefore he must learn to obey
before he Is fit to command, and care
full. constant training is needed TO
produce this result. Children should
be chums with their parents, and
should also have the companionship
of other children and learn to get
along" without difficulties or quar-
rels; adaptability is essential to hap
piness.
We must begin with our children
and teach them personal, home, school
community and national responsibility
at very early age, and show by OBJ
ject lessons that every violation Of
rules and laws, every case Of malicious
destruction of property every mani
festaton of vandalism, all exhibitions
of temper, impotence and insolence,
all forms of disrespect for persons,
places, property, positions or sacred
things bring trouble and punishment.
From the training of the home good
citizens should be graduated into the
schools, from the schools to the col
leges, and from the colleges to citizen
ship and service of our country.