Evening star., 1935-09-10
Little Ones
Want Taste
Of Publicity
Center of Stage Not
to Be Given When
Child "ShoWs Off,"
BY ANGELO PATRI

THERE were so new pupils in the
l. first grade and Miss Mary was
teaching them the very interesting
fact that two plus two are four when
fat little Estelle rolled out OF her
bench to the floor The bench was
about seven inches from the floor, but
Estelle was well padded, so there was
scant reason for the shrek she emit
ted when she landed. The class drew
in a sharp breath. All eyes turned
toward Miss Mary, who stood. chalk
In one hand, large number card IN
the other, gazing placidly at the
stricken class.
"And now, Tommy, you say it" she
said and pointed to the big figures on
the card. Tommy wavered between
the imperious, pointing finger and
the equally disturbing howls OF Es-
telle, who was lying on the floor. Miss
Mary encouraged Tommy with a
smiling nod and he managed to stam-
mer out that two and two made four.
Glass say it." And the 40. chanting
as one, told the world that two and
two made four. Now write it just
like this" Miss Mary printed 1t
clearly on the blackboard and the 40
turned their attention to getting that
illuminating truth down on their
papers.
Miss Mary looked down at Estelle,
still bowling on the floor. Pick me
up," demanded Estelle.
loud better get up as fast as you
can and get your number lesson done.
All the children will be getting stars
except you. II you don't"
Estelle choked shrek half way,
eyed the teacher with crow-like
glance, turned over. struggled to her
feet and seized her pencil. She could
not afford to lose that star. Stars
brought rewards from father and
mother and grandma and everybody
who could be interested in them. Stars
were important.
Now why didn't Miss Mary help the
child up? Because she knew by sad
experience that if she did she would
be picking Estelle up for the rest OF
the term; that whenever Estelle felt
like holding the center of the stage
she would fall down somehow and
insist upon being picked up. That
was bad for Estelle, should it happen,
and bad for the class and an unnec-
essary strain on the teacher. For
everybody's sake Estelle must pick
herself up if she happened to roll over.
Little children have way Of max
ing grown-ups subservient to their
whims. Sometimes they pucker up
their lips and threaten tears, some
times they 60 into tantrums, some
times they smile coyly, sometimes
they roll over. or fall down, or play
sick Sometimes they hatter and
cajole, demand and threaten. Don't
let them do so. . Unless they are in
real distress stand back and let them
discover by experience that it is no
use. They must in the end pick
themselves up and go on as best they
can.
This is important for the health OF
the child. The little one who dis
covers he can stop the wheels of prog
ress by throwing himself in their path
Is going to suffer in consequence. The
effort he must make to hold society
in check to do his bidding soon tells
upon his nerovus system and he is
mentally i'll. Mental hygiene de-
mands that we allow q child to de-
velop the full powers of healthy per-
sonality. Anything that checks that
development checks growth and makes
for Ill health of body and mind. Teach
them to pick themselves up and they
will not fall so readily.
(Copyrieht 1935o