Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-05
OUR CHILDREN
BIZ ANGELO PATRL
Greatness in Child.

Parents have a strange blindness.
without regard to the actual conditions,
without regard to anything but their
desire to have a child of whom they
can be proud. they bend every effort
to force the child into being what they
picture him to be. Though no member
Of the family ever knew a good picture
from bad one, nor cared to know, the
child must be an artist. Though the
family members have been artisans for
generations and neither knew nor cared
about science, the child must be great
scientist. Greatness must come in some
form or other lest the family be dis
graced.
Conduct is a source of great dis
tress to parents The child has bad
temper and makes the family miserable.
The fact that his father has much
worse one seems not to enter into the
matter. The child must be wrong. TO
be sure, the child is wrong, and he will
be wrong just as, long as his father
teaches him that temper tantrums are
acceptable in his sight. Can man say
that he desires sweet temperance when
he RACES like q wild animal?
Mannerisms trouble teachers and par
entS. A child chews his lips. Another
bites his nails. Another twists lock
of hair. Another shifts. Impatiently
teacher and parent correct the child.
Look we'll to yourself What has fright
ened this child into worrying? Moth
ing? Well, what mannerisms have you2
Sure? Is he copying your manner OF
speech or action or behavior? 1t Is
more than likely. Very often the cause
of a child's undesirable habits lie
within n iV1ay11 a m enyirOnNneNf
Sometimes they are due TO poor
health. Care you sure the poor health
is not due to some lack Of manage
ment, some remissness in method or
practice on the part of those close TO
him? OF those in charge Of him?)
Search well in your own being for the
cause of child's failure. You will be
the more understanding and the more
helpful for it, and the child will benefit.
Mental attitude cannot be hidden
from the children. If parent dislikes
or fears child, and this has happened,
the child will soon discover the fact and
act accordingly. If teacher dislikes a
pupil he soon knows it and responds to
the dislike in his conduct and in his
work. The rule works both ways, but
it is, in my experience, stronger on the
negative side. It is easier to strike fear
into the soul of child, easier to set
him on the defensive, than it is to set
him free and fill him with courage.
Hence try to be on the side of the
child as much as possible and do all in
my power to make him know that am
his friend and wish him well.
Parents and teachers have a difficult
task Nobody knows that better than
I, but I know. too, that our tasks can
be lightened by searching within our
selves for the cause Of some Of our trou-
bles. We can try to eradicate our own
undesirable traits and so inspire the
child to do likewise. We can keep faith
with what we know to be good and so
lead the child to better ways. We can
try to be what We would have the child
be and so avoid striving for impossi-
bilities.
Children are like their parents, little
more emphasis here and there, but es-
sentially like. Heredity counts and ex-
ample Is all powerful.
(Copyright. 1919