New Britain herald., 1928-05-22
Rebecca Lowrie
By JULIA BLANSHARD.

New York, May 22--In addition TO
all the responsibilities that face to-
days youngest generation comes the
new and somewhat paradoxical job
Of bringing up its parents. So says
Rebecca Lowrie, who, a. an author
and teachers, understands children
ard oldsters alike.
This course of parent education,
she says, necessarily must be taken
up by parents themselves. through
u willingness to study and respect
their childrens personalities.
The idea struck home to Mrs.
Lowrie during the ten years she
was reading manuscript in large
publishing house. Millions upon mil
lions Of words-biograp ply and semi
biogra phical fiction-revealed that
nearly all Of the tragic mistakes Of
grown-ups are traceable directly 10
a childhood naarrel by wrong treat
ment or lack of understanding on
the part of their parents.
Thwarted Thought
Modern psychologists would do
well to found a school for parents
where a little child should lead
them" she declared. "There is, for
instance. that prime fault Of over
Jealous parents who ignore a child's
inalienable right to keep things TO
himself.
I'VE respect adults for whatever
measure OF reserve they may main
tain. yet we seldom allow a child to
entertain any unvoiced thoughts.
'If that child feels the kind OF
bond between himself and adults
that makes him want TO chat about
his inner thoughts. he just naturally
will do so. When he doesn't feel this
bond he will merely be evasive when
pressed and more than likely tlb to
be rid of questioning"
"S,lch a Stupid Thing"
In her new novel, "Cambric Tea,
, Mrs. Lowrie illustrates this point
'"The child" had just come in from
playing. To questions about what
she had been doing. she answered
her mother: Just playing" Then:
1T was such stupid thing "a
ask, anyway. If one told her how
one had pretended the Adventures
of Prince Alcibiades' she would lis
ten abAently and interrupt with
What did you do with that white
pearl button that came off your
sweater?"
Some Of the subjects for tbs
proposed school were outlined by
Mrs. Lowrie.
Need Freedom
parents should be taught moi
to take children too seriously. They
are little individuals, just like ones
adult friends. Why not allow then
the maximum of freedom in this
world where society gives the mos
independent person all too little?
! parents should avoid voicint
too intense desire for perfec'
ton in their children. Many a
child who gets b instead of A il
school suffers permanent loss o.
self-reliance from his parents be
lief that he should have made A
Recently there has been too
much concentration on children
too much effort made TO force
self expression on them. If the!
were let alone more. they would
develop more naturally"
Parents should Work
As one way to get perspective OF
ones children. Mrs. Lowrie says
Just as many"a successful mar
riaee has its secret IN the fact tina
the wife, like the husband. had ;
career or absorbing outside inter
ests, 30 successful childhood offer
depends on ones mother thinking
most of the time of somethin,
else. believe all mothers whit
possibly can should have job.
parents and children Away
will have those barriers between
them that separate different gen
erations. They should meet. eacl
occupied with its own interests, Il
get the most possible enjoymen
or each other. The more parent
respect the ideas and freedom o
their children. the frmer vii
grow the bonds Of understanding
and friendship a. the years pre-
isress."