The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-10-26
TEACHING EFFICIENCY
IN ALL THINGS
d, Edith LoehrIdge Reid

A business man not long ago was
complaining seriously OF his inefIie
lent office help and he remarked,
THE trouble is, these folks never
learned to use their heads when
they we're small" Now this man
was very close to one-hundred per
cent correct in his statement Too
many children are not trained at
home to make decisions, take re-
sponsibility according TO their age
and strength, or meet emergencies
without shrinking. Let us say that
Boobies duty is to pick up his play
things. But he picks up two or three
and leaves the rest scattered about.
Right here he should be taught
lesson in thofoughness. Very young
children can be taught to hang ~
their coats and hats if the hooks arc
placed within their reach, and thus
they first learn the lesson of order
and of care of their clothes.
Let us suppose that Dorothy is
asked to wipe the dishes. But she
asks, Mother, where's the towel?"
and calls from upstairs II can't find
my apron" and then she asks,
Where does this pitcher belong?"
Some mothers spend as much energy
getting a child ready to do a thins
as they would use doing it them
selves Let Dorothy look around un-
al she finds the towel, there is place
for IL and il she uses her head
little she will discover both the towel
and her apron without calling TO
mother. II the daughter is busting,
see that she does well what she at
tempts and that it does not have to
be gone over by mother afterwards.
This is the most helpful method for
mother, besides making little daugh-
ter competent,-and a competent
person acquires poise and confidence |
naturally.
Il want you to do an errand Son"
says mother, and instantly she is be-
sieged by a volley Of questions
where's the basket2" where's my |
II can't find my roll
er skates" And II this mother is not
using the efficiency method, she will
be tired out simply making prepare
ton for the trip.
20 Id rather do things myself
than get the children ready to help
me. Is often the excuse; but that ls
decidedly the wrong attitude for
mother to take. II she considers both
herself and the child. Let the chill
dren find out by experience where
things are and they'll soon be glad
10 take responsibility when they are
trained to assume H. Even very
young children will surprise you 10
making deductions and following out
iiflculties 10 a logical solution.
How often we see households
where there IL a panic from rising
line until the last child is of to
IchooL Come. now. It's seYen-thirty
you'll be late n you don't hurry.
is cold this morning and rainy. too.
Wear your mittens and rubbers and
,e sure TO get a handkerchief" Thus
mother follows the boys and girls
bout. and they know she won't Jet
hem be late or forget anything. 20
hey are utterly unconscious Of any
In the matter
Nov the wise mother whose house
old Il builded on methods Of enc
spey will let the children b. late
ust once II necessary. That viii Be
nough. The disappr0vai Of teacher
ID sehool-mates will do more than
months Of talking and urging on
,o,her's part. and in addition the
hildren win have been thrown on
heir own responsibility. The share