Evening star., 1938-11-29
Authority Is
Essential in
Training
BY ANGELO PATRI.

There are times in the lives of
all children when some one other
than their parents is placed in au-
thority over them Make no mis-
take about it. authority is an essen
tial force in child training, and
children are quick to feel its weak
ness and take advantage of it.
Whenever a child does that it is he
who is the loser. His experience
is false and, therefore, 1t weakens
him.
In these days mothers as we'll as
fathers are obliged to leave home
every day for work. Somebody must
have charge of the children and
that person. because he shoulders
responsibility, must have authority.
And the father and mother must
support that person in his author
ity even though they dislike do
ing so.
One boy is left in the care Of
his grandmother. She wants the
boy to get nome from school
promptly. change his clothes, eat
a light lunch and do any errand
that is needed The boy wants to
play on the lot before getting home.
He becomes interested in a ball
game and gets home dirty and
ragged, just before it is time for
the evening meal. Grandmother is
wroth, but father and mother,
weary of battle, are inclined to say,
Never mind Let him alone. What
if he isn't so clean? What if he
doesn't get in just on time? AS
long as he is healthy"
That is all very we'll for father
and mother who have not to deal
with the boy during the day. But
grandmother must. and she must
be responsible if he does not come
home whole and healthy some eve
ming. The least father and mother
can do is to put their weight be-
hind grandmother and support her
authority in such matters.
The same holds good when re-
sponsibility is given to paid attend
ants. The nurse in charge of chill
dren must have authority, and the
children must understand that
father and mother support that au-
thority That is why the character
of the nurse or the housekeeper in
charge must be known and trusted.
1t will not do to place irresponsible
people in charge of children. The
right sort must be found first. Then
they must be given the power they
need to do duty
OF course points Of difference
will arise between the temporary
guardians and the parents. These
ought not to be discussed before
the children. Margaret, the old
nurse, would cut the children's meat
long after they were able to do 1t
for themselves. She would take the
knife and fork out of the 1D-year-
old boys hands and cut up his food
every chance she got. OF course
it was not right. but that was a
matter for private conference with
Margaret. Lord love him, it's no
trouble to cut his bit of meat for
l1lll. Ou0O WIG ScAAAC, 11dO
to whisper in her ear secret about
training boy to help himself and
other people.
Criticism of those in charge Of
the children must never reach the
children's ears. It should not be
even looked, much less limited.
Children feel what people think. so
even the thinking must be guarded.
That can be done if the people in
charge are loved by the family.
Loving thoughts will never do any
harm. They cannot help but do
good. Let the criticism wait for
seasonable time and perhaps it
will not be needed then.
With responsibility must 60 au-
thority, so be careful about the
matter of delegated authority. The
person is more important than the
formula.
(Copyright, 193s.)