St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-04-29
Here And
There
By w. NJ. Smith


ment and / heard it somewhat by
accident.
shouldn't call it an argument
really, for it was most sane and
dispassionate discussion among a
group of women upon subject of
vital moment to every wife and
mother. The viewpoints presented
were widely divergent and these,
it could easily be seen, were caused
chiefly by the differences in the
ages of women who were in
f1uenced by totally unlike en-
vironment.
The question at issue was the
proper way to rear children.
AS a mere man, presumed to
know little of the merits of the dis
cussiOn, was satisfied to tread
softly, say nothing, and listen.
My viewpoint, naturally, was
sympathetic with that of the older
women, yet l was compelled to adj
mire the attitudes of the younger
women, their earnestness, respect
full, yet firm, and the logic of their
reasoning and the courage with
which they try to see unpleasant
but ever present facts.
l would not undertake to report
a verbatim review Of the reasoning
of the several persons who took
part in the discussion, but it fol-
lowed these general lines. The
older women, recalling their own
childhood and the manner of their
own upbringing, were unable to
recognize any flaw in it. They
! were taught respect for parents
and their elders and from all of
these they willingly accepted re-
proof or guidance. They were dis
ciplined to believe certain things
were sacrosanct; Sunday was a day
of rest not to be disturbed by ma
terial enjoyments-like card play
ing, dancing, reading worldly liter
ature or by picnics or outings of
like nature. They were schooled
not only in their text books, but in
manners at home and abroad. Boys
were taught to respect and protect
girls who were raised both to ex-
pect and deserve such consider
atoms. The results, they claimed,
was a body of citizens who be-
came the very backbone of the
traditions for which America has
grown famous and looked up to by
all the world.
Undaunted the younger women
responded that, today this is diff
ferent world with new environ
ments and with factors entering
in so entirely different, it is unwise
not to face factually the problems
presented. That if the desirable
results claimed for an older period
were to be continued and preserved
in this present day it becomes es-
sential to recognize and prepare to
meet certain definite important
changes in conditions supporting
ideas and methods far removed
from those of another era.
| They pointed to the obvious fact
that children of today are born
into a new world-a world of the
telephone, the movies, the air
plane, streamlined transportation
units, all of which induce in them
thoughts in keeping with the
rapidity of the times and a re-
sponsibility based upon very diff
ferent concepts - children learn
quickly and intuitively to make
their own decisions; they hear, as
matter of course, the messages
of the radio and they don't accept
as true conclusions of their elders
not in keeping with the things they
have thus heard day after day.
They question departure from
ethics so outlined even tho such
departure comes from their own
parents.
! You say, yOu older women, that
the results of your discipline have