The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-04-02
Child Guidance
by
Frank Howard Richardson
M. D.. F. A. c. P. :,
Black Mountain. N. c, and
Brooklyn, N. Y.
WHAT BRAND OF DISCIPLINE
no YOU USE?

James Clark never gives MS
parcnts a bit Of trouble. He minds
the moment he is spoken to-; he
is polite to his mother, and obeys
his fathers slightest command, as
soon as it is expressed. He is
perfectly willing to yield to his
parents better judgment about
what boys to play with, what
books to read, when to go to bed.
His parents constantly sing his
praises; and their friends con-
graduate them upon their Won
dcrful discipline. The father takes
credit for this, saying that it
pays to be firm with children, and
to insist upon unqucstioning ODE
dience.
Of late. however, things have
not been quite as satisfactory as
they were. The boy has lost in
terest in his school work, gets
Door marks, and does not seem to
feel bad about it. He is listless
and mopes about, and does not
care to play. He has lied to his
parents on a number of occasions,
so that they are beginning to be
unable to trust him. He is pale,
languid, lstless. They have caught
him more than once in small
thefts. What can be the matter?
Is it possible that the fathers
discipline was at fault? .
Not only possible, but certain!
Instead Of being disciplined to-
ward self-determination and abil-
ity to make decisions for himself,
this unfortunate child has been
schooled to depend absolutely up
on his father. He sees no hope
of ever making life for himself.
The future holds no zest. A
stronger nature would have re-
belled against such discourage
ing hopeless future; and his re-
bellion would have saved the day.
Unfortunately, this boy was
made of the stuff that bends to
superior force. The condition in
which he finds himself is but the
beginning of life Of neurotic,
unhappy dependence upon those
to whom he will cling-stronger
natures. like his father or later his
employer or friend-never devel-
oping into true maturity. His "dis-
cipline" has been tragedy in
deed.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
QUESTION: Dear DR.. Richard
son: Ny little girl seems constant
ly obsessed by fears--fcar of the
dark, fear Of strangers. fear OF
high places and Of Lonely places,
fear of loud noises. In fact, there
is hardly anything that she is not
afraid Of. I am quite nervous my
self; and more so than usual, since
slight accident that I had in the
car few months ago. My little
Gi1l seems to be full of com
plexes.
ANSWER: Most of us are-ir
fact. we could not function very
well If we were not full Of com
plexes. If you mean that your lit
tie girl is full of undesirable com
pleXes, that is of course not near
ly so good. | am wondering wheth
er much Of this fear Of everything
IN creation is not a passable imita
uon OF your conduct. since your
accident; at least, if it is not the
best imitation that a little gir
can make of a grown woman.
conduct. shall not ask YOU t.
control your nervousness" Blu
l shall have to tell you that tha-
is large factor in your littI,
girls fears. You would be set
ting her a wonderful example
along the line of what Won arr
come to our conclusions, vet w,
can not dwell too much on III,
vices nor become too much fooIa,
with the virtues. There is some
thing wrong with nvnrv o,,, e.