The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-19
When I 0 Punish And How, Is
 Question
By l.. s. BRADY

M-s Oy ls os Dnk1DI
 MI ANY parents have written to me lvl asking if l believe in corporal
 punishment, or this or that other kind; and have always had to reply that there is no specified pun ishment, which will fit every child's needs on every occasion.
 But it will be worth while to in quire into this matter of retribution a good deal further than such a very gen eral and vague statement. What's the use of punishment at all? Is it because it says in the Bible "spare the rod and spoil the childT' Is it because you are desircds that the child shall fear you, and shall hesitate to commit the offense a second time because of fear of you Is it that you want to make plain to your child that every cause has an ef feet, and that forbidden acts have dis agreeable effects? Is it to prove to the child that your will is greater than his, because you are bigger and stronger than he is?
 The Children's Foundation has pub lished book called "The Child, His Nature and His Needs" from which l am quoting some of the results of their large experience with children.
 If punishment, of any kind, particu- larly corporal punishment, is poorly adapted, so that bad spirit in the child Is engendered, then it defeats its own ishment--what is perniclously humbling to some children may not be so to others; while rabid vindictiveness may A~ s,. 4As k~x of discipline, another can take it with out notice. It is a matter of adapting the measures of treatment to the chlld's peculiarly personal needs"
 That is to say, that some children are more pained and hurt by the with drawal of their parents, apparent affec- tion for them for a period of time than by any amount of mere physical pain. And, of course, there is the possibility that a given child can be hurt only by a thorough whipping. It is case, truly, of knowing your own child.
 As soon as possible, the child needs to see clearly that the punishment is fair and deserved. Of course, in a young baby this is impossible, but children who have reached the age of three to four years old understand quite we'll, usually, if you will frankly explain to them in considerable detail just why such measures are necessary, and what you hope to accomplish thereby.
 Approached in such a sympathetic manner, withal firmly, most children will show an amazing de Ire to coop crate, even to the extent, at times,, of suggesting entirely adequate and fitting punishments for themselves.
 One of the best things you can do is to find out exactly why the miscon- duct was performed how did it get into the child's mind in the first place Patiently and sympathetically help your boy or girl trace out every possible as- sOciation or motivation which le to the specific offense.
 For "by merely ppnishing the child he is likely to become all the more cowardly about the punishments and to lie. Most children react with feel. ings of shame, guilt and inferiority @ wrongdoing, and they are not going to tell what has actually happened unless confronted with the specific and detailed but sympathetic, inquiry to which they : can respond without damage to their sense of propriety, whether that be Joy alty to comrades, shame GJout the af. < fair, unnecessary exposure of themselves to punishment. and so on. z
 It is often possible to trace wrong 1. doing to day dreaming-'to tra e mis. conduct to this inner source is to do more toward getting a clue to rational and effective treatment than almost anything else which may be done."
 In other words, you must try to get at the source of the trouble, and that may lie in the environment, or in the mind of the child. Does the misconduct relate itself to any 9specific playmate, locality, employment pr home situation One idea follows another because of an earlier association together, and you may get at the one by finding out what is the other.
 One more point-4there must be nc delay in carrying out the punishment as this tends to encourage the growth of fear or of hate in the child. Any one of us can imagine a number oi possible excuses for misconduct if we spend enough time in trying to, ard SC with the child. When punished a con. considerable period of time after the of. fense he feels unfairly treated and may react witL rage instead of grief and repentance.