The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-07-20
THE CHILD'S BILL
OF RIGHTS
FLORENCE MILNER

We had gone to Belle Isle for pic
mic supper, to see the sunset, and to
enjoy the early evening coolness.
Margaret, about two and half years
old, begged for walk, so her father
went with her. There was much food
for thought in watching that walk, as
| did sauntering along behind.
The wise father chose the less fre-
quented way to avoid the automobiles.
He did not grip Margaret by the hand,
but let her walk Independently, as all
children love to do. When she seemed
to be turning toward the road where
an automobile might appear suddenly,
he did not call out or exclaim ex-
citedly, Don't go there, Peggy! You'll
get run over" Neither did he grab
her by the arm and pull her back as
he would have done had the danger
been imminent. Instead, as unobtru-
sively as possible, he put himself be-
tween her and the roadway. This was
sufficient to turn her unconsciously in
the right direction.
When the walk brought them to the
shore of the great lake and she was
inclined to go too near the waters
edge, he pointed to some stones that
she might like to pick up. When he
thought she had walked far enough,
they sat down on the clean sand and
dug well and built house of stones.
On the return by different route,
the method was the same. If the child
wished to stop to look at flower or
follow fitting butterfly, the father
waited. He never forgot that this was
Margaret's walk, and that she ought,
as far as possible, to be allowed to
enjoy it in her own way. Not once
did he touch her except when Of her
own accord she put her hand in his
for few contented steps.
This is no argument for the extreme
"follow the child' theory, but it is a
plea for avoiding unnecessary interfer-
ence with the natural activities of a
child when the matter concerns only
the child. 1t is protest against un-
necessary fussing over children,
against dragging them by main force
away from some activity, their par
ticipation in which makes no difference
to anyone else; it is protest against
the needless fussing with a child's
clothes, pull here and pull there
the brushing back of a lock of hair
that looks better anyway when follow
ing its own sweet will, the pulling of
children about by the arm and, in fact
against all those needless nervous
fussings that too many parents infiict
upon their children.
There was a woman on a train. Her
three-year-old boy, kneeling on the
seat, was watching through the win
dow the fascinating panorama unfold
ing before him-trees, cows, lot of
chickens, a horse-drawn wagon-all of
which called forth joyous eXclama-
tions. 1t was difficult to understand
the mothers point of view when she
pulled the boy down into the seat-not
urgently but firmly-gave his clothes
a needless pull and, to add insult to
injury, wet her finger and stroked
back lock of hair that was all right
before. Nov be a good boy" she
said, giving him tender pat and a
look of satisfaction. He had been very
good before and happy besides. Now
he was obedient but not happy.
There is small circle around every
child in which what he does in his own
affair, and the circle is a constantly
enlarging one. Within this circle he
should be allowed almost complete in
dependence. When he steps out Of it
into the circle of life with others, then
he must learn to adjust himself to the
demands Of society. But that is an
other story.