The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-19
Child Guidance
by
Frank Howard Richardson
M. D., F. A. c. P. -,
Black Mountain. N. G., and
Brooklyn. N. Y.
MY CHILD DOESN'T CONCEN
TRATEl

The teacher looked reprovlngly
at Door Mrs. Martin, who had been
summoned to school for a confer
ence over an unsatisfactory report
card. Herbert has o good mind,
Mrs. Martin; he could get perfect
" satisfactory marks, if he would
only show interest in his school
work. He simply will not concen-
tratew What would teachers do
to explain the schools inability to
get results, if they could not
blame everything on this same
failure to concentratep
A teacher could MT ppssibly
aim a more serious Indictment,
either at the c,lrriculun or else
at her own ability to- teach it,
f not eG e9frste asat we're es
cause, instead of being a result!
Children, like adults, always con-
centrate upon things that are in
teresting and worth while. A sub
iect that cannot be made inter-
esting, and shown to be worth
while, by teacher of ordinary
ability and training, has no place
in the curriculum. And the teach
er that cannot teach the right sort
Of subjects to a normal child, had
better get into some other kind
Of occupation.
To be sure, the best of teach
ers may fail with the best of sub
jects. where the school hours are
so long, or the opportunities for
rest and relaxation so short and
few, or the state Of the child's
nutrition so poor, that fatigue
makes concentration impossible.
Lecturing mothers because chill
dren won't concentrate is just a
poor alibi. 1t behooves the school
to find out where the fault really
lies. Only where the home permits
social interests to cause undue fa-
tigue. can parents be held at fault.
The cause Of any failure to con-
centrate is a problem for the
school to solve.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: Dear DR.. Richard
son: My boy of eight is contin-
ually being sent home with notes
from the teacher complaining
about his lack of interest in his
school subjects. 1 have tried pun
Ishment, rewards, scolding, sham
ing; nothing seems to do any
good. What would you advise?
ANSWER: l should not dare to
make a "snap diagnosis" as doc
tors call quick guess at the cause
of patients symptoms. But there
are some things you could safely
and wisely do: (D You could
meet the teacher, perhaps invite
her to your home to a meal; and
try with her to find out what is
at the bottom of your sons diff
fIculty. (2) You could make sure
that it is not fatigue from late
hours, from insufficient or i'm
proper food. Or from trying to
Keep up with a class that is too
advanced for him. And CO you
could find out whether the school
day itself is not too long for him
five or six hours a day usually
is, for a boy of eight. If so, get
q note from your doctor excusing
him from the afternoon session;
you'll be surprised to see the gain
ne makes in his studies, on the
shorter school day.
QUESTION: What is the treat
ment for diphtheria
ANSWER: The best treatment
OF all Is preventing it in the first
place. by giving every child three
doses of toxin-antitoxin or two
OF toxoid whichever your doctor
pretersl at intervals of a week
apart. If he already has it. the
quicker he gets a big dose of diph-
tAerla antitoxin. the better. The
longer he waits, the less good it.
will do him.
QUESTION: My 12-year-old
boy is worried by thoughts of sex,
His father is too embarrassed to
talk things over with him. What
can l do?
q ANSWER: let him know that
thoughts of sex are natural, and
nothingoto be ashamed of. Get him
r. IL. b. -