Evening star., 1937-04-16
New Items the Food Line Are of Housekeer
Teach Child
To Handle
m S elf
Showing and Fighting
Must Be Allowed
in Self-Defense.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

"DLEASE register Samuel. have
transferred him from the other
school,"
Transferred him? In the middle
Of the term? That isn't so good for
his progress. Children always lose
time going from school to school.
Why are you doing this?"
The teacher does not understand
him. He is a sensitive child. She
called him cry baby, made him go
to the end of the line when he COM
planned about other boys pushing him;
told him to 60 out and hold his own
and stop bothering her about his
troubles when the boys picked on him.
That's no way for a teacher to do.
She ought to look out for the timid,
sensitive children. I'm bringing him
here so he can be given chance"
But we have many many boys here,
Just like the other boys. And the
teacher might feel just the same about
his complaints. You see boys of his
age, seventh grade, are expected to
take care of themselves. Teachers
never interfere with them"
You mean to tell me that a deli
cate boy, sensitive, little gentleman,
can't be protected in school? I'm
going to see about this. l want my
boy to go to school and be protected
in his rights"
The only rights a school boy ever
knows are those he wins for himself.
Nobody can win them for him. This
record says the boy is in good health,
no defects -"
mo defects? I should hope not.
He's just a sensitive -"
TT would be far better for him to
be less sensitive, and more aggressive.
If he let's boys push him around they
will push him plenty. He will have
to make them leave him alone Look
here, son, aren't you able to shove
boy around bit if he shoves you?
What's the matter?"
MY mother never lets me fight.
Nor be rough. And l don't like rough
boys. Can't have a pass SO can
come through the front entrance so
won't have to go through the yards?"
There wasn't a thing the matter
with the boy. He had been trained
to believe that he was too good for
earthly things, to avoid other boys,
and seek the protection and support
of his elders, although he did not need
it. He needed to go to school and to
hold his own among the other boys.
He could not be little gentleman
in his mothers use of the term and
get along in the school yard. And he
needed to get along there. 1t was an
essential part of his training for life.
Boys between the ages of and IL,
and for even longer period Of years,
are ungentle in thought, word and
deed. They have to be. There is in
them at work, strong quality of
masculinity that drives them to &C
ton and accomplishment. They are
increasing the powers that will en-
able them to endure, struggle, labor
and achieve in days to come. AS
sociation with other boys of like
characteristics is as essential to their
healthy growth as is the food they
eat three times day.
When a boy begins to shy away
from other boys there is something
wrong with his health or with his
training. Adjust things SO he can
face life with his fellows and grow
according to his nature. And don't
call him sensitive" All boys are
sensitive, but few of them are unable
to live with the rest of their kind.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a leaf1et
entitled, Bedtime Troubles" in which
he tells parents how to overcome ir-
ritability in children. Send for it,
addressing your request to Mr.. Angelo
Patri, Child Psychology Department
of this paper. Enclose a self ad-
dressed, stamped (3-cen) envelope.
CCopyrfght. 1879