The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-04
HEY0UR
CHILDREN


Humiliation one of the
most OmpOrfant factors I'm be-
hayioF-is described by Olive
Roberts Barton In another
article ON Child Training.
About half the poor conduct of
all children and all grownupS
makes its bed in feeling of hum
iliation. We will not be put into
a shamed or embarrassing positions
therefore we become suspicious of
every word or act of others.
This pride of ours has eyes all
over its head, ready to take UNI
bage at the slightest suggestion
of insult.
And, strange as it may seem,
the more reason for the affront,
the TOUGHER we get. If were ug-
", or poor, or in disgrace. we
think that every one is trying to
rub it in. We distort the most
innocent remarks and become n.y.
persensitive.
SO let US take child who is
sensitive about, something. We
won't know it because no one can
guess what is in child's mind.
He is so secretive about his per-
sonal feelings that he'd rather die
sooner than tell. Humiliation bur-
les itself deep. He may be asham-
ed of his looks, however beauti-
full he Is. He may be sensitive be-
cause he cannot get his lessons, or
because he has to wear a tie or a
suit he hates. Or he may be sem
istive about home conditions.
How Trouble Begins.
Perhaps his parents are quar-
reling all the time. He knows 1t
and he thinks other people know
1t. Or it may be that his father
doesn't stand we'll in the COM
munity. or his mother is known
as a character" 1t may even be
that he lives in rich neighbour
hood where the other children
have everything and he considers
himself poor.
He won't let on that he is suf-
fering, as. only child can who
has not the qualifying relief of his
elders-he won't show by so much
as a CULVER that he notices diff
ference" He'll just go on and
pretend that everything is usual
and normal and that he's like AL
the other boys. Please remember
this include girls, too.
Then suddenly he becomes
cross, disobedient, impertinent,
and lazy, or even takes to lying.
He won't do anything he's told,
he gets careless about his appear
ance, fights the boys, and turns
bully.
Every one is puzzled. And of
course every one comes down on
him ehard. He won't take it as
just reprimand, but instead will
look on it as real persecution
directed at his shame.
1t is his way Of reprisal, the re-
taliation that comes after hurt.
Keeping Sufferings Secret
A man insults another man and
he gets knocked down. The boy
is Inundated and he can't always
knock any one down, but he can
do and does other things.
He will camoufage that deep
hurt of his. He won't allow the
world to suspect his secret suffer-
ing so he turns into devil of a
fellow to throw people off guard.
Why, oh why, is our lego COM
plex" so afraid to tell the truth?
Thu we have another reason
for so-called bad behavior, a pitt
full reason that needs understand
ing. 1t is one of the greatest prob
lens of all, because it is SO un-
reachable.
However, a mother can get at
it sometimes, if she suspects a
hidden unhappiness. If she can
rect the situation without talking
to him it might work a quicker
cure. Because talking sometimes
deepens the determination to hide
he real state of affairs. 1t de-
ponds somewhat on the child.
Whatever she says must be care
fully thought out so as not to
cause still more trouble. 1t takes
an expert on such things to find
the trouble without the child sus-
pecting.
If the reason is known to the
parent, the best thing is to re-
move it, if possible.