The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-17
CHARACTER TRAINING
FOR CHILDREN MIGHT
SCHOLARSHIP
Mrs. Agenes Boysen Explains
Her System Before County
Superintendents

Rapidly approaching is the time
when school children will be marked
the basis Of character development.
than scholarship only. assert
ed Mrs. Agnes Boysen, principal Of
the Lyndale school. Minneapolis. who
spoke before county superintendent,
clubwomen of the city. and Bismarck
teachers here Friday afternoon
Mrs. Boysen has developed "a new
system Of training children at the
Lyndale school. which places greater
emphasis on qualities tending to help
the child gain the right tastes and
learn to live with others in harmony
The system has been in operation for
the last seven years, Mrs. Boysen said.
1t was expected that the change
would bring about q lowering Of
scholarship. yet the first year Of its
trial, the school average rose above
previous records. Since then average
scholarship has been maintained.
Home Tasks Missing
Mrs. Boysen showed that because
Of modern conveniences and more
prosperous homes the average child
has been deprived Of home tasks and
responsibility necessary for character
development. Contrasted with these
are the large number of families
where the children suffer from some
form Of neglect, such as homes where
both parents r employed or where
there is ignorance or low moral STAN
dards. It is for all Of these that
character training through the
schools may be most effective, the
speaker said. The church too, she
pointed out. is handicapped In OFFER
ing adequate training because of in
experienced workers.
Children in the Lyndale school
have prepared a small booklet, Mrs.
Boysen said. setting forth the prin-
ciples which they consider important
in forming character. Listed are 10
Of the most important character
traits: reliability, obedience. ..udg-
ment. punctuality. initiative, industry,
personal habits. social attitude. self
control and thrift. All are defined In
terms the child can understand and
are referred to often when there is
doubt as to what is the right thing
to do.
Reaction Of the parents to the new
system was interesting, Mrs. Boysen
declared. as all of them when con-
WINGED that 1t made home discipline
easier. became firm supporters. She
related q number Of incidents show
ing how disagreeable personal traits
Of the children were eliminated.
Condemns Lack Of Ideals
Condemning the lack of ideals In
the home Of today. she showed this is
directly related to methods used in
rearing children In the past and has
been a factor in increasing the d.
vorce ratio. mo home can be sue
cessful unless some of the character
traits are present" declared Mrs. Boy
sen. These she characterized a
knowledge Of thrift. ability to organ
ice. ability to get along with people
unselfishness, love Of the beautiful
and willingness to direct pleasantly.
Recently inquiries were conducted
among business firms in Minneapolis
with a view to finding why many
young employees were dismissed.
Among reasons given were lack of re-
liability, initiative. cooperation,
punctuality, Of pride in their work,
and laZineSS.
In closing Mrs. Boysen urged that
schools consider a definite system in
character training to permit the child
to develop naturally. finding the in
formation he can use, instead Of be-
ing driven to acquire a mass Of knowl-
edge about things he does not need.