Evening star., 1937-05-19
Fighting
Student a
Problem
Respected Place in
Athletics Will
Stop Difficulty.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

O1 7A\oLA<O "a AASAs
"OuR son, Just past his ninth
birthday, Is fighting terror. He
has at least one fight day and some
times more The instant he is
touched, physically or mentally, up
goes his fist. Today he was sent
home from school because he punched
q boy who brushed his arm as he
passed him on the stairs.
when asked him why he did it
he said, Why didn't he look where
he was going? I'm not going to be
showed around Nobody showed him.
Nobody even thought Of bothering
him. But that is the way he Is.
He isn't very good pupil. either.
I have to help him with his arithmetic
and spelling. He manages to pass,
but that's about all He Is healthy
enough, eats well and plays hard and
sleeps all night through. l could get
along with him If 1t wasn't for this
fighting. What can we do with him to
make him stop it?"
Usually, when We come across boy
like this in school. We flnd that he
isn't able to live up to his picture of
himself, and that makes him resentful
and savage. We had one that gave
us all plenty Of trouble. He blackened
eyes and redeemed noses at every pos
sible opportunity until he was put
under escort. When We did that
he was bad-tempered and jumpy and
finally cried Historically.
be a shining star among the athletes,
but he was not fast enough. The physi-
cal director studied him and laid out a
program Of exercise and diet for him,
and made him assistant manager Of
the base ball team After that there
were no more fights. He didn't star
on the team. but he held respected
place and that satisfied him.
Something is troubling the boy who
feels he must dominate the place with
his fists. The only thing to do is to
study him, try to win his confidence
and get at the idea that dSturbs his
mind. As long as he feels himself less
than he wants to be, the trouble will
continue.
Sometimes this difficulty Is physical
He needs the care and advice that an
understanding physician can give him
Sometimes he feels great lack in hi,
home. He hasn't the feeling Of
security there that boy has to have
Maybe he thinks other children are
loved more than he. Or, worst Of all
his parents are separated. Rarely dc
we flnd perfectly adjusted chile
under that condition.
A boy needs his father in the back.
ground. For a time he gets on vel
enough with mother to attend to hin
and father looking on, but about hi
ninth year he begins to look towarc
father It is time then for father tt
come forward and for mother to re.
treat somewhat IN the guidance anc
control of the boy. Father means
something to his son that nothing anc
nobody else can ever mean.
All boys strut a little about thei,
fathers. "You ought to see my father
do this and that Is the theme o1
boy-talk hours on END The boy who
can't break in with, Huh, my dac
could do that and not half try. You
oughta seen him when I fell into the
river. Picked me out with one hand
when was going under the third
time, he did" To be in sound mental
and physical health. at peace with
his stormy world. boy must be able
to trot out perfectly adequate father
A fighting terror is boy in trouble
Look for the way to help him.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a leafle,
entitled. Touching Things" in which
he tells parents how to teach children
to amuse themselves. Send for it
addressing your request to Mr.. Angelo
Patri, Child Psychology Department Of
this paper. Enclose a self-addressed
stamped (3-cent) envelope.
Wopyright. 1879