Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-22
TWO PROBLEM BOYS
BY H. Addington Bruce

T\HOMAS BANELY, aged nine had been
brought to the clinic on the recommen-
daton of his school teacher. His rec
ord was not merely one of backwardnes's
but of sundry nervous symptoms and an ad-
normal tmidity
1t seemed impossible for Thomas to sit
quietly, and he had a curious trick of sud
denly turning his head sidewse every once
in a while. AS to his tmidity it was so
extreme that he did not dare to go to or
from school alone.
Not surprisingly, he was the subject of
considerable teasing from Older boys, which
did not mend matters any. And the teasin g
was provoked not only by Thomas's super
timidity but by the uncommon stupidity he
displayed in schoolwork stupidity so eX-
IRENE as to lead to suspicion that he was
Weakminded.
This suspicion soon dispelled by psy-
Geological testing. The clinican who ex-
amined him found that, if anything he was
a little above the average boy of his age in
point of intelligence. Similarly the suspicion
that his nervous symptoms were associated
with some physical defect proved to be
grOundless.
Thus the problem presented by the stupid,
! nervous timid Thomas remained unsolved
till close inquiry was made into the
manner of his home Infringing.
Then it developed that, while he came
from a so-caled good home he had parents
who perpetually took occasion TO exercise
their parental authority. 1t was do this,
! Thomas" and Don't do this, Thomas, -
through all his waking hours at home. The
result had been to overStrain his nerves, and
to Undue him with a sense of inferiority so
profound as to cripple the development of
his mind and personality.
AS was demonstrated by the fact that
after a sojourn away from home and some
. re education" of his parents leading them
to adopt less repressive policy, the little
Thomas free of the nervousness,
the timdity, and the dizziness that had
threatened to ruin his life
To the same clinic at about the same
time came Robert Random.
Roberts outstanding trouble the re-
verse of timidity He over-bold, and
besides keeping the schoolroom in a per-
petual turmoil had developed an unpleas-
ant habit of bullying young children. Like
Thomas he backward in schoOlwork,
but his teacher felt that this was due not
to lack of intelligence, but to unwillngness
to apply himself
Again psychological and medical exami-
nations failed to disclose any mental or
physical cause for Roberts misbehavior.
Again inquiry was made into home condi-
tions. And again the outstanding fact dis
covered was a long-cOntnued parental pol
icy of rearing by prohibitions and repres-
sion.
Again, too, a change in this policy suf-
| feed to effect a great change for the better
in the boys demeanor.
That a similar cause should have had
such dissimilar effects in these two cases.
was owing entirely to the different natures
of the two lads involved. One belonged to
the type termed by William James the ten
der-minded. The other was Of the tough
minded type, and consequently reacted by
/ rebellion in contrast to the others reaction
by collapse.
In both cases, however upbringng by
habtual coercion had worked great harm.
That it always works harm in one way or
another is truth which should be appre-
ciated by every parent.
copyright 1924