Milford chronicle., 1924-04-25
THE DIGNITY OF EARNING
MONEY
By Esther H. Doolittle

Why not let the children earn mon
| ey? Very early with pins and pennies
as the medium of exchange they begin
of their own accord to conduct stores
and shows. Why not make use Of this
tendency by teaching the child to do
something well enough to earn a Pc
cuniary reward? Since money is in the
world to stay, let us show the little
ones how to regard it sanely, as a
means to an end, and how to use it to
further their own advancement and
growth.
1t is surely an evidence of develop
ment when a child earns by his own
labor the wherewithal to purchase
birthday and Christmas gifts for
friends and relatives. No amount Of
given money can produce the same
feeling of satisfaction and self-re-
spect his own earnings do, when he is
allowed to spend them for someone
he loves.
To learn that money does not grow,
nor in some magical way flow into
Dads pocket. but comes sa result of
service rendered, is to take an impor-
tant step in lifes journey. TO develop
in a child the feelings of independence
and self-reliance is to give him an in
valuable equipment.
Here are a few definite ways and
means of earning money For the
small boy, running errands, feeding
animals, and simple duties about the
house and garden suggest themselves.
AS he grows older, fire tending, wood
carrying, snow shOveling, lawn NOW
ing, lettuce, celery or cress growing,
chicken raising, and selling papers or
magazines take precedence.
1t is a mistake to feel that boy
must not "peddle" his work among
friends and neighbors, providing, of
course, his work is useful, necessary,
and reasonably priced. BrOad-minded
and thinking people will respect a
child who shows an inclination to pro-
duce rather than only to consume the
worlds commodities The thOughtless
people surely do not count. From them
come the Wasters and many of the
failures of our communities.
For girls, baby tending and house
work, such as dish washing, busting,
and table setting are possible tasks.
Even little girls can be successfully
taught to do some useful things about
the house, and for the older girl the
are practically limitless. !
money making enterprise for her
may be the cooking of one or more
home made foOds-cookies, rolls, nut !
bread, candy, salad dressing, and |
orange marmalade.
The establishment of a regular /
.rade, learning to keep accounts, fig |
Iring to produce a fair profit, pur-
chasing supplies, keeping the mater
ais separate from the house supplies,
ind tidying the kitchen after work is
lone are all benefits quite aside from
my financial considerations.
A girl who draws well will be able
o make place cards to order. Also
most housewives are in constant need
f well made, reasonably priced hold
rs and aprons.
1t goes without saying that money
arning must not be allowed to inter-
ere with a child's playtime nor to as
ume too important a position in his
cheme of things, neither should it de-
eriorate into the bribing habit. The
hild should be made to realize that
is own money making schemes are in
o way connected with the many ser
ices he can do for Mother. If Mother
fishes Son to help her or to run eT-
ands, she should be met with instan-
lneous and glad response and not the
uestiDn, How much will you give
le ?" All of us know families in which
le policy of bribing children is car
ed too far. If this pitfall is avoided,
lere is nothing more salutary for the
lild than the self-reliance and know
.dge which come through working
n himself.
n y Y y " y X y y !. Y Y y X %M
Senator Copeland of New York,
who is first and foremost physi-
clan with a professional interest
in human welfare, delivered an ad-
dresso n Human Welfare and the
Government" He made one most
significant statement: 81 am told
that the Federal appropriation for
child welfare is $4,000 a year.,
while S4,OO0,O0Q is appropriated
annually to combat hog cholera"
The tendency at present is to
economic on all forms of educa-
ton but particularly on that of
the little child. Many local school
authorities feel that the little ones
can wait. The kindergarten age
four to six years-is the habit
forming time of life and it is
therefore important that children
of that age have right training. If
there is no kindergarten in your
school, write to the National Kin
dergarten Association, 8 West 4Oth
Street, New York, for information
on how to obtain one.
-Ew HOUSE PLAN BOOK TO BE