Evening star., 1937-07-10

Method of
Discipline
Scares Children and
Sets Fears in Their
Nervous System.
BY ANGELO PATRI,

~ NA>oLAo n h1s
nNLY young children who are
still In an uniformed stage of
mental development approve of strong
arm treatment today. Most grown up
folk know that it is useless and often
harmful. There does come the emerg-
ency when child has to be literally
snatched out Of the jaws OF danger,
but emergencies are everyday happen
ings though there are still some who
act as If there was fire every hour.
Now that warm weather is here
and the swimming season is on it
would be we'll to remember that timid
children are not encouraged to learn
to swim and to like it by being seized
by the nape of the neck and the slack
OF their pants and tossed out into
the ocean. Such treatment is brutal.
1t frightens the child and sets his
fear Of the water firmly in his nerv-
Gus system. 1t is a mean thing to do
to a child, and since 1t harms him it
is senSelesS as well.
Striking a child who is annoying
one is another senseless thing. II the
child is doing something thoughtlessly
such as rubbing the window pane,
whistling through his teeth or drum
ming on the table, it indicates that he
needs something to hold the center OF
interest in his mind. Instead of yell
ing at him or striking him, send him
to do specific job like getting you a
glass OF water, hooking the screen
door, bringing in the dog. That will
bring his thought back to the present
and give you time to think up some
thing worthwhile for him to do like
packing his bag for the coming trip,
or testing his fishing lines. or finish
ing his wall bracket for Aunt Miranda
Taking a child's toys, showing him
out OF a chair, sending him out of the
room, where he has settled himself to
work or play, because you feel his
presence is embarrassing or annoy
ing is unjust, bad-mannered, and alto
gether unworthy behavior in one who
is obligated to be considerate of those
weaker than themselves. The childs
dignity is affronted, his sense of court
esy and consideration blunted, and
fear and distrust are set in his mind
Why not treat him as though he were
as strong and intelligent as you are?
Force used on children is rarely
effective discipline. The child usually
feels that he is the victim Of strength,
height and weight counted against him
in the battle. Proper discipline tends
to make the child see that he was
wrong, that he would be much happier
and far more successful If he tried to
do things the other way, the right
way, according to the teacher.
Worse than all else about such forms
Of discipline that induces fear are it's
effects on the mental health, and,
consequently, the mental attitude of
the fear-driven child. There are many
grown up people carrying the scars
OF such encounters today and suffer-
ing under them. Il have never had
the courage to learn to swim because
my uncle lost patience with me when
I was four years old and afraid of
the water. He took me out in a boat
and threw me overheard and told me
to swim. almost drowned. Now I am
afraid ever to cross bridge If I see
the water below"
So the stories run. One person is
under the burden of fear of men with
loud voices, another Of dark rooms,
another of animals because of some
ones strong-arm method of discipline.
1t is hard practice.