The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1925-09-03
HOME EDUCATION
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CORRECTING CHILDREN In
PIIRTJC

Children must, of course, be repri-
manded at times; they must OCCASION
ally be taken seriously to task for
mlsdemeanors. But why, oh why! do
mothers deem it right and proper to
do this in public? Everywhere one
sees it. On street cars, and in all
sorts Of public places, the irate moth
er, voice raised, berates Willie Or
Lilly loudly for some fault or other.
Often there's no question but what
the child really merits punishment,
but whenever witness an adult ex-
hlbition Of anger and a juvenile dis
play OF misbehavior, it seems to me
that the adult deserves punishment
much more than the child. Moreover,
it does not the slightest good to Gre
ate scene.
Here is a case. A young mother,
obviously more interested in the wax
like polish of her fingernails than i'll
her small daughters comfort, enters
street car. The child removes her
hat, the mother slams it back; the
child, plainly over-tired, screams and
cries while the mother, very angry,
scolds and slaps. The little girl con-
tinues to cry loudly until their desti-
nation is reached, to the discomfort
of their fellow passengers. This mis-
guided woman would have advanced
her own interests infinitely more had
she permitted the poor, tired child to
have her way, at the time, and saved
her corrections until later.
After all whose fault is it but the
mothers if the child is over-tired !?
Quite aside from that, public repri-
mand adds resentment to the already
over-burdened emotional capacity and
seemingly, more power to lungs and
legs.
| had one sad experience along this
line when | was young and foolish.
During some city jollification / took
my daughter, aged four, to see. the
daytime festivities, Naturally the
crowds and confusion were too much
for so young child and she became
over-tired. In my inexperience, /
failed to read the danger signals and
FASTENED on to my undoing. ay
small daughter, by the way, had au-
burn locks and the quich inflammable
disposition which usually accompan.
les them. She desired balloon and
gleefully purchased a golden one that
matched her hair. Unsuspectingly and
peacefully we waited on the corner
for a home-bound street car. Sud-
denly, pop! the hot sun had van
quished the balloon. Small daughter
began to cry and sensing the real
grief behind the tears, sought an
other balloon. Apparently there was
no other golden one in the world and
no color but that would suit the over
wrought baby.
In fury, she stamped her little
feet and screamed. If a nice large
and hungry earthquake had come or
then and swallowed US up, I'd have
been grateful, but my embarrassment
led me to a solutions of the problem.
Since knew that scolding would on
ly aggravate the matter, bent down
and put my arms around her. At first
she struggled but l quickly whisp-
cred, "Look, look, dear, everybody's
watching us. No one else is crying
in the street" It worked like magic.
She looked up quickly and ceased ex-
ploding at once. / seized the oppor-
tunity to divert her attention to a
passing watering cart and the day
was saved.
l am aware that a scheme which
would be effective with sensitive
child might be Of no use with other
types. However, / am sure that no
boy or girl is improved or benefited
by correction in public for the simple
reason that some do not feel the
humiliation anyway, and those who
do are usually made more angry and
resentful by it. In any case, have
pity on the public.