Evening star., 1938-02-09
Confidence
GainedWith
Shy Children Need
A Lot of Praise,
Not Criticism.
By ANGELO PATRI.

IT HAVE no self lf-confldence. Please
tell me how to be successful. How
can 1 win self-confidence? I am in
my junior year in high school and l
fear 1 am failing because have no
self confidence. Please help me. Please
tell me how can get it,
That is a note from a high school
boy. I wish l could give him an
unfailing recipe. but that is beyond
my power. and, fear, beyond the pow
er of anybody else. But the teacher
could help a great deal. 1t won't help
the boy any to tell him to be brave,
and bright. His trouble is too much
self-attention now. If he gives himself
any more he will soon submerge. The
teacher is the best one to aid. I am
appealing to all high school teachers
to study the needs of the boys and
girls who lack self-confidence and do
what is possible to help them.
The first thing to do is to investigate
their state OF health. Ailing children
cannot be brave and bright. If child
does not get enough rest, play, food.
cheerful encouragement to be a
healthy animal, he must fail. Look
into that phase first.
Next, and this cannot be disregarded,
adjust the students work to his ca
pacity. Bring it we'll within his capac-
ity. Even if he has to be regarded to
do this, it must be done. Until the
student can succeed in some one field,
self confidence is denied him,
Sometimes such a child has a spe-
cial gift 1t may be only slight one.
We had boy who hid in corners all
day long and failed consistently to
do any work anywhere until, by acci-
dent, teacher discovered that he was
an excellent mimic. She got him to
put on a show and from that day on,
with the applause Of the school ring
ing in his ears, he walked proudly
among us. And he began to learn.
Find something the shy, retiring
child can do well and accent it until
he begins to depend upon it to carry
him. The first step well set, the next
is easier always. Tie him to some
friendly sympathetic teacher who will
make his way easier, and he will i'm
prove.
Direct talk, direct instruction, ad-
monitions to be brave, to do better, to
get high mark are useless. They do
harm instead of good because they
make him feel his weakness more
acutely. Deal as impersonally and as
casually as possible with this sort Of
student, but keep him moving some
where, somehow
Study the people about him, and II
there is one who keeps telling him what
dead one he is, attend to that person
promptly. This sort of student needs
encouragement most Of all. He needs
praise. He gets enough criticism and
has his faults pointed out sufnciently
for his good. Let him have a song Of
praise for a change.
Make him useful. Send him on
errands about the school, and the
neighborhood and train him how to
carry . message, how to deliver it and
bring back the answer. This Is a
step in social relations that is not to
be taken for granted. Once the shy
child can accomplish an errand he
has made long stride forward. Al
ways give him something to carry in his
hand. Let him be well-experienced in
that way before giving him speeches to
deliver. Let the business become more
complicated as he develops power.
Every high school needs teacher who
understands this child and his prob
lens and their solution.
(Copyright. 193S.)