Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1920-03-11
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Little Citizens
PUNIsHMENTs
(By LOise H. Peck)

~O~AE Ia NA4~ VIM
when their child shall "show reason, .
and then, the majority of them pro-
coed to check the development of
their little ones reasoning power by
resorting to methods of punishment
which tend to fill him with fear! Not
infrequently they resort to slapping,
spanking, whipping or even telling
terrible lies in order to brighten him
into obedience.
This kind Of training naturally pro-
duces a lawless child; for through
fear of unjust punishment he resorts
to dishonesty in self-defense; then,
too, the example of his parents
teaches him to strike when angry.
Let parents reverse this Process, be
honest and kind but firm with the
tiniest child and teach him the i'm
portance Of obedience and consider
alton for the rights of others; the
cultivation Of these qualities fore
stalls much trouble. When a child
is disobedient let the parent ''talk it
over" with him in a reasonable, self
controlled way and reach a fair con-
clusion.
A mother cannot begin too early
to train her little one. Before the
child is old enough to understand
words, he understands the difference
between her smiles and frowns and
by the expression of her face she can
teach even a little baby the differ
ence between right and wrong. For
example, take the habit of pulling
the table cloth from the table; let
her look directly into his eyes, her
smiles all gone, take his hand from
the cloth and shake her head with
mo, no." She must have patience
to do this well, but by these first
lessons in obedience she is saving
much future trouble for him, for her
self and for society.
OF course, there are times when
discipline and punishment are neces-
sary, and when parents need to cor
rect their children they should do
so in private. To permit another
person to enter into the discussion
or even overhear it, and smile at
such a time, ruins the effect of the
punishment and the lesson is lost if
it is not clear to the little one that
right conduct brings approval, where
as wrong-doing merits disapproval
and discipline.
A very effective form Of punish
ment is social isolation. For exam
pie, excuse. "a child from the room and
make him sit facing a corner in an
other room BY himself; at another
time send him to bed early; at anoth-
er, have him eat his meal alone
away from the other members Of the
family. If he quarrels with his play
mates, make him play alone while
the other children are happy togeth-
er, until he is willing to be agree
able. Another form of discipline is
to make child go without something
of which he is very fond, no dessert
for dinner, or no candy for several
days are punishments which have a
good effect, But to lock a child in
a dark closet or to threaten him with
terrifying lies is as harmfuI and use
less as whipping, for such treatment
instills dishonesty and cruelty into
him.
Parents who use the rod or hand
most often are generally the ones
who complain that their children are
naughty and disobedient. "Spare the
rod and spoil the child" seems to be
the one Scriptural text familiar to
some irritable grown-ups. Why is it
that the home is the last stronghold
Of whipping? The whipping-post dis
appeared long ago; whipping is no
longer tolerated in schools, it is lie
gal even in prisons! Then why is it
that many a gentle mother who can
not manage her own little one either
whips him or reports his misconduct
to his father, too often telling only
her own side of the story, for in such
cases the child is not allowed to ap-
peal to the father as judge, but must
submit to- the whipping which his
parents mete out to him at a time
when they are tired and irritable. Let
justice and remember that wise par
grown-ups cultivate self-control and