Evening star., 1936-04-02
AdOleScent
Child Often
Troublesome
Tactful Dis ciplin e
and Guidance
Needed.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

COME boys and girls go through
adolescence with little trouble.
They are fortunate. The big group
have considerable difficulty in making
the adjustments to life that this stage
Of development demands. And there
Is a small group that become so i'm
balanced as to require expert medical
care These are often mistaken for
bad, wayward, criminal boys and girls.
They are ailing and sadly in need
Of good medical care and the most
understanding supervision. Many Of
them can be restored to happy sue
cessful living If the physicians get
them in time.
Here is Ransome. He was a good
boy until after his 18th birthday an
niversary. Then he began to be a
bad boy. He took things that did not
belong to him. Not that he needed
or wanted them really, but he just
took them, and then denied it stoutly.
Then he got very jumpy, did no
lessons, failed in school. The doctor
and nurse said to keep him out for
the rest Of the term. During the va
cation he grew like weed, but his
conduct was worse than ever. Now
he stayed in bed late mornings so his
mother could not get him to school
on time to save her life. He was very
surly and said ugly things to those
who spoke to him. He had hysterical
tantrums, yelled at the top of his
lungs, declaring that he would get
even, he would run away, he would
do dreadful things, all for no appar-
ent reason
This went on until he was more
than IA. His lessons improved so he
was promoted, but his behavior at
home did not change. Finally his
mother could stand no more and fell
sick. The doctors who attended her
soon found that Ransome needed their
attention more than she did. They
persuaded her to allow them to take
him to the children's hospital and
treat him for what allied him, the
tmbalance of adolescence. Now he is
back at school greatly improved in
every way. The doctors still see him
weekly, and he is glad of their help.
Girls have their difficulties at this
time. Some of them are very hard
to manage. They seem to be possessed
to do what is going to hurt them.
They manage to escape the watchful
eyes of teachers and mothers and
make and keep dates with boys who
are the wrong sort. Some of them 60
in for exaggerated dress, thick rouge
and plasters Of powder. They want
spike heels and evening dresses for
school, and in other ways manifest
instincts that are almost out of con-
troll.
This is no time for talking These
girls need medical care and advice.
They do not know what ails them and
have little control of themselves.
They seem to take to trouble as ducks
to water, all unconscious of its mean
ing and its consequences to them
selves. Lose no time in getting i'm
balanced children to the specialist
who understands their condition.
Don't scold them and make them feel
they are sinners and criminals. They
are battling through a stage of their
growth and need help. They need
medicine, guidance, new interests and
friendly understanding to carry them
through this safely.
A skilled psychologist and trained
psychiatrist for every high school in
the land would serve our purpose bet
ter than the police and the proba-
ton officers.