Evening star., 1935-04-23
Anger Bars
All Caution
From Mind
Battles of Children
for Defense May
Be Justified.
BY ANGELO PATRU.

FIGHTING is a boyish sport. Boys
like to fight. We froWn on the
sport and do our best to discourage
it because we know that it Is not the
right sort of thing for children
Fighting, If not stimulated by anger
in the beginning, is certain to be fired
by it soon after the first couple of
passes. Anger is dangerous emotion
to arouse in anybody but especially In
children. Anger wipes out all caution
all reason, and the fighters are more
than likely to do each other harm.
Little boys of Z and 8 and 9 are not
SO likely to harm each other. Their
fights are usually exhibitions OF
strength, q Showoff stunt. But the
fights staged by older boys are differ
ent. They are usually the result of
bitter rivalry, jealousy, grudging and
i'll feeling generally. These fights are
likely to leave scars on the mind as
well as on the body and ought to be
frowned down altogether. Older boys
can talk out their differences and at
least agree to disagree. 1t is back
ward step for them to fight.
While I frown on the fights I would
not tell a child he must not fight.
There are times when boy must
tight. It would be too bad to handi-
cap him with feelings of guilt when
he battles for a righteous cause.
Teach the boy to get along as peace
fully as he can, to strike no blow that
is not justified by standards of right
eousness and honor. But, if he must
tight, fight with all his might to the
finish.
Children in the first fighting stage
are often called to defend themselves.
They must show readiness to do so
il necessary. Many times the mere
show of readiness is enough. Should
one of them retreat or show fear in
the face of a challenge he at once
becomes the object of all the bullies
in the neighborhood and his life is
made miserable.
they find one of their number help
less, they descend upon him like a
flock of vultures and proceed to pick
him bare. Not that they are know
ingly cruel. They are ignorantly,
thoughtlessly cruel because they have
not developed the finer human quail
tiles as yet. They come in time, with
experiences to foster them. They are
not to be counted on until that stage
Of growth has arrived and passed into
the next.
Don't force the timid child to fight.
His masculine qualities have not de-
veloped sufficiently to carry him
through such an experience. If they
had nobody would have to urge him
to fight. Quite the other way. Nor
ought one to encourage boy to fight.
He will do enough of that without en-
couragement. Teach all boys to be
wary of battle and never to engage in
it unless duty and honor demand it.
To the one who comes in weeping
and complaining about the treatment
he receives from his companions the
first thing to say is, What did you do
to him2 You punched him? And he
punched you in return? What do you
want me to do about it? Fight your
own battles if you must fight. Smart
boys get along without punching each
other" Or, If he is the helpless one,
"Keep out of their way" And do
you escort that helpless child and
keep him from the birds of prey that
are so ready to sweep down upon him.
His battle must be fought for him. As
to the others, be neutral as you can
and bide patiently against the Gay
when their reason takes control OF
their impulses.
(Copyright. 1857