The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-06-11
CHILD LABOR FOR THE HOME.
by UTHAI VINCENT WILCOX,

Dearborn, Ind
I'm preaching the gospel Of per-
spiration as a saving grace for inspir-
alton said an old minister who was
family. "One Of the best panaceas for
the ills Of the country that | know
Is the character training that comes
Of the home law DO something use
ful about the house, I've put up a
sign in my boys room where they
Will see it morning and night If nee
Gssary, I'll illuminate 1t with electric
THE world owes me living, but
] also owe the world the fullest pos
sible measure Of honest effort in pay
mcnt for that living"
Every child wants to do as father
or mother does. Let the first toys
be useful ones A small broom and
sweeper are always received joyfully
and the idea of helpful effort thereby
is encouraged. A set of dishes, small
tical playthings promote the idea of
work and its needs. They will bring
growing through doing.
As soon as Alice and Aigy are able
TO understand, simple duties should
be assigned and their performance ex-
pected. II may mean a little extra
effort for lowering of the closet hooks
so the clothes can be hung up rath-
er than thrown on the floor; the
providing of playroom boxes instead
of shelves where toys can be put
away after using. 1t may be an init
ial towel in the bathroom that must
be hung on certain rod; it should
be something that means regularity
in, the home life, and comfort for
How will any normal boy or girl
develop Imagination. invention and
creative ability if he has nothing that
he must do for himself no regular
work that is daily expected of him.
where will he get his training of the
Of EtT1 inn of l.
ne Of perseverance?
Give the boys and the girls some
work to do, particularly during the
vacation time. Let the work be Sc
only because it is good work but be-
cause of its educational value. 1t
probably Will do more for the future
welfare Of the child than the ability
correctly to parse sentence or to
bound" the republic of Ecuador.
Some educators are even now ad-
vocating that the school supply the
lack Of the discipline of the homes
Joseph and Josie to do profitable
work. Child labor" in the sense Of
grinding toll Is not needed nor want
ed, but there should be organized eff
fort along some regular line. 1t is
just this lack in some homes that
causes the Legislators to pass more pa
tcrnal laws to supply the lack of pa
ternal authority at home.
Home chores and homely tasks are
not to be despised There are dishes
to wash, wood to bring in, the lawn
to NOW. the rooms to dust, the stock
ings to mend These are easy, yet are
of educational value because of their
character building discipline.
o. II. Benson, lays down four rules
for growing good citizens"
First, let the child take part in the
production of the business of the
home.
Second, don't let your children leave
home to do their first work. Show
them how to work and earn at home.
Third, teach the child to love his
work While he is yet child by in
fusing into that work the spirit of
contest, challenge and enthusiasm.
This will make work seem like play.
Furth, make the child's idle school
hours and vacation periods an OPP
portunity for the business Of produc-
ton. Salvage the child's idle hours
and you salvage the child.