The Washington times., 1922-05-02

that Is, roughly speaking, back
ground" She was a lady of lofty
spirit and careful training and did
not interfere with the personalities
of her offspring.
Such interference is one OF the
faults of the average home toiay,
according TO Rabbi Stephen s. Wise,
speaking at the Free Synagogue.
Home. he says, is the most undemo-
ents somewhere or other have ac-
quired the idea they own their chill
dren.
Problems OF Parents.
Young growing personalities can.
not be invaded by older minds, and
experience cannot be handed down
like heirlooms. Inter-family rela-
tionships are becoming more and
more OF a problem since the so-caIled
revolt of the younger generation and
the frequent helpiessness of parents
in the face OF Il.
This discussion OF the relation be.
tween parents and child is carried
further by an expert in child psy
chology. Mrs. Z. r. Prendergast.
Upon calling at Mrs. Prendersast's
home, 419 West 1lsth street, we re-
called that she was friend and
neighbor of the Columbia boy
prodigy, Eddie Hardy, and Eddie's
family. The brilliant boy student
was cited by Mrs. Prendergast as a
perfect example of what could be
accomplished by the right relations
between parent and child.
Mrs. Prcndereast's Views.
II am a great admirer Of Rabbi
Wise and his ideas. He is a forward
looking man with big heart and
brain, Mrs. Prendergast said.
''It Is a true and awful thing that
parents do think they own their
children.
Here is a little child given into
our keeping that Is the very incarna-
ton of God. We must respect this
animal in us that makes us try to
'own'-that's all.
Parents and children must be
friends everywhere and In the home
co-pertners, as well.
Children, you find, never hold
rancor against their parents for
slaps and spankings. That is God In
the child. Perhaps the child thinks
II Is the best thing the parent knows
how to do In a sudden crisis and the
child is apt to be sorry for his elders
in that case.
American child development is
bad in that children haven't rever-
ence for their parents. This feeling
should be mutual, Of course.
"Foreigu-born children, who at
tend our schools, are taught by their
Americsn-born companions to scorn
parents, so they promptly run home
and scorn them, and thus authority
is undermined. 1t may be that most
of our own children merely pretend
to hold this attitude. but the others
take II more seriously, and proceed
to live up to the Wanted superiority
TO elders on the part Of their new
friends.
Would Show Children.
I'VE must not say Don't to chill
dren, but surround them with condi-
tons whereby IL will be possible for
them to make the right choice of ac-
ton. We must create the idea Of
Let me show you why a certain
thing Is wrong.
''fs is fatal to declare: You're a
bad child II you say: You're a
little darling and wouldn't do any
thing wrong for all the world you
will see the child turn to you like
a flower and expand. remember
an example OF this one day when
an angry mother dragged her little
daughter into a subway car. The
child looked like a small thunder
cloud. Her mother kept telling her
how wicked she was. I told the lit
tie girl when they sat down beside
me that she was a sweet, little thing
and was sure she was good. She
Immediately broke out In smiles. 1
advised the woman not to call the
child bad again.
Children. reminded her, are
sure to live UP TO what you expect
from them.
Keep Them At Home.
I'VE must make the home a pre-
paratory place, friendly center,
and a temple as well" said Mrs.
Prendersast. And We must stand
guard and direct the course of our
children's lives. Parents should be
guardians, and when they send very
young children off to boarding school
I feel they are missing great privi-
leses,
when parents are wrong they
should admit IL. Truth Ia the founda-
ton of character, and II children
find their parents are not willing
to be honest about a mistake they
lore confidence in them.
'Parenthood In the greatest Job
we have. No mentality is too great
to be applied TO II. Religion must be
insisted upon In the home ss the
fundamental OF life.
I'm the home children must learn
that they will reap what they SOW"
Mrs. Prendergsst gave a few ex-
amples TO illustrate how a forceful
lesson can be taught In the most
cheerful manner possible.
Mrs Prendergsst laughed in rem
inIscence.
MY aunt, with her grandson of
eight, visited me once" The young
man had to be coaxed to get up In
the morning. Darling won't you
please get up. o, do get up" and
similar pleas were made. He would
forget to arise and his grandmother
would forget to remind him, Just
once more. So he'd come out late
and another breakfast would have
TO be prepared for him. I finally
asked her permission 10 get him up.
''I offered TO try II for a week.
went In tho next morning, gave