The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-03-11
ACHlLD'S RIGHT TO
BE MADE HAPPY
By Supt. Nathan G. Schaeffer

| BY Supt. Nathan u. ocnaeHer
| A man in middle life once wrote to
his parents, II shall never cease to
be thankful for the happy boyhood
| which my father and mother gave me,
1t is treasure house of memories
more valuable than gold and silver"
| Fathers sometimes forget that chill
dren have the right to be happy at
home as we'll as at school. Let fathers
become the friends and companions
of their children, share in the Sunday
walks and talks, evening games and
stories, help with studies or take an
interest . in inspecting some achieve
ment. The right relationship between
father and child will increase when
mothers cease to resort to the fathers
discipline and punishment as q threat
for disobedience. Any man prefers To
work and sacrifice for an affectionate,
contidin& child than for one who has
been led to consider him harsh judge
and strict disciplinarian.
Almost anything which child can
claim as his very own, can protect
and care for will serve to develop his
affections. and increase his sense of
responsibility and self-respect. A dog
cat, rabbits, guinea pigs, pets of
any kind are source of JOY to any
child, for it takes very little to make
healthy children happy.
Playmates are helpful in adding joy
to the child's life, and an only child
should frequently have playmates.
Little friends should be invited to the
home, and the child encouraged to
share his toys with them. Every child,
too, should have the opportunity to
go to the social kindergarten, for in
it's democratic atmosphere, little peo-
pie of all types come together. The
INDUCED, the neglected, the shy
and the backward all meet on common
ground and learn adaptability and
SELF control sin their happy activities.
There is nothing which boy de-
spises more than idleness and mac
tivity. On the other hand, toll and
fatigue, day after day stunt growth
and take the joy out Of life. A certain
farmer once complained that the
school enticed his children away
from the old farm. Upon inquiry, it
was found that he assigned useless
tasks on rainy days to keep them busy
and that they never had any time
for play or recreation. The leisure
and the con1panionship Of the school
were the only relief from the drudgery
which those children ever knew, and
only through compulsory attendance
laws was that relief insured them.
"All work and no play makes Jack
a dull boy". On the other hand, all
play and no work is the curse of the
rich mans son.
Every child finds satisfaction in
work for which he received pay. So
called projects from which he derives
an income and for which he is re-
sponsible, give him a taste for work
and develop an appreciation for the
value Of money. "I'll pay you back
when we get hone,' whispered self
respecting son of nine as he watched
his father pay the family carfares
one Sunday morning. A smile crept
over the kindly face Of the father as
he replied, "No indeed, Sonny"
Both city and country people have
opportunities to earn money. Though
a farm may be the graveyard Of talent
it is the best place to spend ones
childhood if life there is coupled with
good school advantages.