Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1927-12-09
Home Education
DEVELOPING JUDGEMENT
THROUGH CHOICES
Edith LOchridge Reid

"Shan we make the roof of the
house green or red, Allen?" the
teacher asked, in drawing lesson.
you tell me-" Allen replied. you
know"
''Why do you say that?" the teach
er questioned.
because my mother always tells
me what to do" Allen answered,
and he seemed almost alarmed
Ayhen confronted with the Opportun-
y for usinghis own mental powers.
Now Allen may be an exception
he is a very much petted little
bein gthe only child of the
lilly and the constant companion
a mother sometimes unwise in
devotion. However, there are
" other boys and girls who are
Gatched as closely as Allen, and
not developing judgment.
cen too much supervision and
ed freedom here is happy
dWe course with regard to train
ing that both mothers and children
may enjoy. In this the children are
permitted and encouraged to choose
between right and wrong, between
this side" ind "the other side
with the help of Mothers guidance.
"What dress shall you wear this
morning?" Rosemary's mother ask
ed her little daughter.
my pink bingham" replied Rose
mary, this being her favorite.
But you haven't looked out OF the
window" suggested Mother.
''Why, it's snowing!" Rosemary
exclaimed in surprise. Then L
must put on you flannel dress"
And so Rosemary made a choice,
a voluntary choice based on en-
vironment 1t would have been
quicker, but much less valuable in
training, for Mother to have laid
out the flannel dress with the COM
mand to put it on.
So man times mothers discount
the ability and the intelligence of
the little children in the home, and
underestimate their powers for
choosing wisely. Yet can contri-
butte every hour to their character
building if instead of telling them
the best course of action, based on
our experience, we lay the facts be-
fore them and permit them to weigh
the evidence and decide for them
selves.
Training children to think takes
time and patience and is more
trouble" than commanding, but the
thinking method will live and in
fluence future conduct when direct
dictation is impossible and after
home contacts have been broken.
Almost any child can tell the diff
ference between right and wrong
when both are definite, but to be
able to tell why one is thing right
and another wrong, or to dis
tinguish between shades of good
and evil when the border line is
indistinct, requires a developed in
telligence.
To demand blind obedience is
weak discipline. To inspire ideal
ism and to encourage loyalty to
principles of conduct il working out
the simple little problems of the
home and playground decelop
character.
TITS wicked to fight and I want
you to promise me that you'll never
do such a naughty thing" Billys
mother admonished, and Billy COM
piled with the arbitrary request.
But before the day was over he had
a grand scrap with the boy next
door His mother of course express
ed chagrin and reproof.
Gee, Mother" pleaded Billy, "I
couldn't remember about not fight
ing-I had to make him stop kick
ing my dog"
If Billy had been obedient he
would have allowed his mothers
teaching to submerge and obscure
a righteous principle-humance
protection. And so itcan be observ-
ed that commands and promises are
often futile but the ability to discern
right and to dispense justice are a.
mOng the best characteristics that
we can develop.