Milford chronicle., 1939-03-17
TO TEACH HIS TALENT
Frances Dunlap Heron

IdnCEo
The mothers of the second grade
pupils were leaving school after at
tending a program presented by
their children Martha Kent and
Sylvia Thomson paired OFF to Walk
down Elm street together.
How proud you must be of Mari
anne. Sylvia" her friend exclaimed.
II envy you every time | hear her
sing. She has more musical talent
than any other child in the group. II
cnly my Donald had her ability"
"Of course I'm proud of Marianne"
Sylvia replied But music isn't the
only thing in life. Do you mind,
Martha. if speak to you about
something persOnal?'
why, OF course not, Sylvia"
Its about Donald. Ever since I've
known you, three years now. you've
lamented over and over again the
fact that Donald doesn't show apti-
tude in music. Now tell me honestly
why you feel so keenly about it. ,"
well, you see, Frank and l just
naturally expected our child would
be musical. Both of our families
have more than average talent. You
know yourself Frank plays and
sings beautifully and"
You're a delightful organist, vio-
linist and singer-I1l save your mod
esty," Sylvia interrupted laughing
". "And you dreamed of Donald's
carrying on the tradition, didn't you?"
Yes. The word spoke frustrated
hopes.
Now listen to my story" Sylvia
continued. do you suppose we ex-
pected our Marianne to be musical?
No. Wick and do well to carry
tune But, we thought Marianne
would be a shining intellectual light,
perhaps a linguist or historian or
scientist. Look at Vick's family of
teachers and literary people. And If
do say SO, my lawyer husband is
pretty smart-Phi Beta and all that.
And |. we'll, at least my school work
was my joy, and I was always disap-
pointed if I was not at the head of
my class.
Much to our surprise and disap-
pointment. however. from the time
she was a baby Marianne showed an
entirely different type of mind from
ours-no logic. no reflection, no
ingenuity. Hoping to bring out what
we could not find. we sent her to kin
dergarten. Miss Meloy. the teacher.
studied every child carefully, and l
marvel yet at her insight.
"One day after several months of
school she was having conferences
with parents. Mrs. Thomson, she
said to me. you and Marianne's faith
kr.xrf ~ 20 mold hnT- instead nf
letting her develop her own way.
You want her to be deeply intel
lectual person. Marianne has not
that turn of mind. l doubt if she
was born to be great thinker. But
for a child of her age she has tai
ent for music and an appreciation of
rhythm and beauty that are remark
able. Develop them
THAT young kindergarten teacher
opened our eyes. and we're trying to
follow her advice. Now about your
Donald. l think he has one of the
best minds of all the children know.
The way he sizes up situation and
goes logically to a solution is won
derful. At play. he is the one who
devises games and leads. Don't you
see? Forget his lack of musical
genius and help him develop his own
particular gifts Why the scholarly
Thomsons should have a musical
daughter and the musical Kents
scholarly son is just one of the
queer tricks heredity plays!"
Martha Kent was thoughtful. ITO
think I've never looked at it that
way! wish you'd spoken to me
sooner. But we aren't the only ones
who've erred. are we? I know a lot
of parents who expect their children
to be like them. l suppose it's our
egotism."