New-York tribune., 1920-02-06
Books

We have received from Funk g. Wag-
nails "The Literary Digest Parents
League Series" in which the training
OF children is discussed in seven vol
utnes by William Byron Forbush. Much
OF 1t seems sound and shrewd, but it
also seeks, by implication at any rate to
encourage parents TO maintain with their
children the old nonsense of parental
1nfalhbliity. Thus, in one volume. which
suggests the manner in which a father
may lmpart certain information TO his
son, ne is quoted as saying, 81 tell Won
this, Frank, because | know al, aho,+
IT, AND IN another volume mothers ARC
urged to holo before their children the
ideals OF the Light Brigade, "Theirs not
10 reason why, theirs but to do and die y
NOW there is no denying that this is a
comfortable doctrine for parents, if thew
can put 1t over, but they must make m
their minds that sooner or later thev
will be found out.
Also, we are in entire disagreement
with the author when he saws that
spankings should be administered in o
cool and deliberate manner. that "nun-
ishmeht must partake of the nature of
ceremony. The only excuse for a
parent who spanks child is that he
mas lost his temper and his patience
ana his ability to think up anv better
remedy. If he is asked whv he does Il
ne would do well to explain all that
very frankly to the child and to add
that 1t is the rather harsh rule of +ha
world that stronger people usually adopt
force against weaker people to get what
they want. The child may regard him
as a bully, but he will not be in danger
OF beng thought q hypocrite is we'll.
Jhis system seems far preferable to
the one suggested by the author in 3
quotations from Charles Werner: "Mv
boy, listen: love you and I do not like
10 hurt you. But every boy must be
made to obey his father and mother and
this seems to be the only way to make
you DO 1t, SO remember, Every time
you dlsobey me you shall be punished
When | tell you to do thing. YOU must
do 1t instantly without a moments da-
lay If you hesitate. if you wait to be
told the second time, you will be nun
lshed. When ! speak you must act
just as sure as you are standing here
before mo this punishment will follow
every time you do not do as YOU ara
told"
lhls would be. at least, a commend
aoly frank statement of the TYRANNY
under which most children are held if
IL were not for the unjustified intru-
SION OF the love motive This occurs
however, IN a still more objectionable
FORM IN reply to a mother, in which
the author writes, "Shoud it ever be
necessary to spank him | should NOT
refuse to kiss him. even while you are
DONG so. He can learn that no punish.
"ent ls inflicted in anger and that pun
lshment does not turn aside your affec-
tion."
:. 'uen conduct is adding insult to in
aighity. 1t goes beyond the tyranny
"n'cn few parents can resist in a state
III which interests are necessarily 80
eonnlctlng as one which is inhabited bv
growing persons and grown-ups. 1t is
pfooaply not to be expected, or even
desirable, that parents should always
allow the interests of the child to dis
p'a.e their own, but when they cannot
q, '''s' ehe temptation to sweep over the
ooroers of childhood with all their armed
i'rees 1T is a little too much to ask
'"a' ehe conquered people should be not
'"'s docile but grateful. In other
"ofos, the father or mother who saws az
prelude to punishment "I am doing
'"'s Tor your own good" is a nar at