The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-12-13

NN yHAT could be more pleas
wv amt assignment than dis
course on children in a
primary grade, as seen through the
glimmering eyes of new, so, unso-
phisticatcd school marin?
OF Different Kind
i is with reluctance, however,
FOR there is a peculiar danger of er-
rUr IN the study of the behavior and
psychology of children for we are
Oft times prone to think of the
chiids thinking and behavior in
terms Of our own. But il child study
has accomplished any one thing dur
ink its brief history, it has proved
that the child is not an adult in min
nature, either mentally or physically
bat different being. His body is
not merely smaller, but it is of diff
ierent fiber. His mind is not merely
quantitatively difcrcnt-it is Of
different kind.
Are the children OF the workers
in coal camps different from others?
Yes and no. Sully tells us that the
most rebellious children are biologi-
cally best. Some days We decide
tina; the most we can say is that our
iifty-four strong-are biologi-
cally perfect-no more, no less.
When suddenly we realize that ii has
been one Of those Blue Mondays;
probably We had not slept well the
night before on account OF Dog
Serennde outside our window, just
one Of those "of" days-and the
fault was all ours. We really would
not swap places with any one of our
profession.
The Part Parent, Play
The father and mother impress
deeply into the child's mind the seal
81 their personality, the more SEN
sitive and mouldable the child, the
deeper is the impression. This fact
is verified by the visits made to our
patrons, for it is only By coming in
contact with its invironmental influ-
ences that we can completely nnalyze
child. Hearty welcomes no
exceptions, are given by the parents.
no matter how humble the home, and
1t is not an uncommon thing to leave
e home laden with most everything
from pumpkins to sweet remember
ances of little brother or sister,"
Daily Donation"
This spirit of generosity is passed
On TO the child Waxed jars of red
apple butter stand for the daily do
nations of apples; beans, corn and
tomatoes were brought in season;
with each box of crackerjacks,
bought with their many spent nick
els from "The Store"-comes n prize
which is usually passed on to the
teacher. She, long ere this, has quite
a collection of things, suitable for
BOBBY prizes-doll babies, spectacles,
Jumping jacks, rubber balls, min
iature knives, forks and spoons-ev-
erything. but she prizes them ALL.
Chewing gum is q favorite gift. They
at least, understand that teacher
might be human.
Tho Dummy i, Everywhere
What of the work of these chill
dren? Are they, on the whole, de-
hcient? What of their possibilities?
They are efficient versus deficient.
The proverbial dummy is anywhere,
everywhere, but not necessarily more
pravelent among the miners chill
dren. Many of them are handicap
ped in that their parents can Meth
sr read nor write. Not having had
the opportunity afforded their chill
dren-but generally speaking, the
youngsters seem to realize that "the
world is not playground, but n
school room; that life is not a holi-
day but an education; that there is
always an eternal lesson to be learn
ed" Child like, they like recitations.
sewing cards, gymnastics and gig
gling--just as they dislike report
cards, fractions, rules and reading.
There is general attitude of the
children towards each of their les