The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-07-14
ER YOUR CHILDREN
By Olivs Roberts Bsrtos 1.
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 pr Douglas A. Thom. director of the habit clinics of Boston and director also of Mental Hygiene in the Department of Mental Diseases of Massachusetts, in his new book, Guiding the Adolescent," refers among other things to "educa- tional pitfalls"
 The words caught my eye at once. Educational Pitfalls"
 Contrary to what had expect ed, Dr Thom explains that these are the various kinds of failure in the older child to cope with the high order of study expected or him.
 had in mind the conflicts aris- ing from trying to fit the newer and broader vision in educatio1 to-day to narrower home tradition. Newer ideas of religion, of govern ment and so on, which I'd think cause much perplexlty--learning new ways of looking at things at home, and another at school. Who is right, the child wants to know.
 But Dr Thom bears harder on the other trouble. the fact that many children who do we'll in lower grade work find themselves up against a real impasse in high school, while parents attribute this failure to laziness or indiffer- ence.
 Reasons for Failure
 To go over some of the perti- nent points, he explains the vari- ous reasons of failure.
 First, some children are physi- cally incapable or applying them selves to school work more than five or six hours a day, while others can concentrate on lessons for ten or even twelve hours day without fatigue. I am not quoting directly, but paraphrasing hisf ideas.
 Second, very many children find themselves pushed along, and when they enter high school have no real preparation for meeting their tasks. I think this Is very l important. Not only is there too little foundation for the sudden jump into scholastic work, but the habit of concentration has never been acquired.
 The third point I have left un- til last because I believe it to be | the most important-mental im- maturity. pr Thom stresses the | point.
 Authorities on mentl calibre agree hat comparatively few adults have really adult minds, meaning that perfect development up to the chosen unit of standard is not always reached. It would take a long list of tables to ex- plain this, but suffice it to say that each one of us has our mental age"
 | Some even go beyond accepted standards but many stay below This does not mean that these lat ter are morons or odd or abnormal in any way. Often the reverse. In- | telligence is matter of width rather than height and the genius in one line may be stupid in another.
 Show Mental Growth Some children, too, delay mem tai completion until they are old CT. This is why I like the idea of year or two of work before col lege. Mental immaturity is no equipment for high study. At this time of year parents may do well to consider some o1 these things. If a boy-or girl has had a struggle it seems to be !, the wiser course to figure out the trouble and correct it. Perhaps there is work he or she has miss ed, work that will be necessary be- fore they can go on successfully. It can be obtained in vacation. Or there is no shame in retaking the last years work altogether. Almost anything is better than another "pitfall." They may need only time.
 If possible choose subject suit ed to the type of mentality. No use wasting time on those sub jects beyond any hope of being mastered. 1t does pay to swap horses sometimes in the middle of the stream.