Evening star., 1939-05-10
Obligations
Of Adults
Practice of Beating
Enemies Through
Youngster Bad
BY ANGELO PATRI.

Some misguided adults beat their
enemies through the humiliation of
little children. A meaner practice
or a less excusable one would be
difficult to uncover.
A relative bears a grudge against
another. The child offers a chance
for a safe sort of attack. why
doesn't your mother buy you some
decent clothes? She could if she
wanted to-" 80? I thought your
grandmother had taught you to tell
the truth. Go right over and tell
her that I've caught you in three
lies in one week. Ask her if she
thinks she did a good job" "Hmph.
You might know you're your fathers
own son. My family are clean.
Something I've never been able to
put into your head yet" Such
speeches are red flags and call for
battle, immediate and earnest.
But what Of the teacher who
commits such an offense? One
would not expect that a teacher,
trained in the service of education,
informed on the psychology and de-
velopment of children's minds, could
make a mistake in that direction.
Occasionally we find one who does,
and the offense is objectionable in
its effect on the children concerned
One teacher dislikes another. That
is nothing out of the ordinary be-
cause teachers are people But they
are teachers and that implies some
thing in their relations to the chill
dren. A pupil does poor work and
the teacher who is actively disliking
the other one sends. that helpless
child to that others room saying.
GO and tell Miss Miserable that
you don't know the grade work she
is supposed to have taught you. Just
show her that paper and see what
she says to you"
This is as mean an advantage to
take of child as is possible under
the sun. To him a teacher is an
authority, one removed from the
ordinary community and placed
above him. He is afraid to be found
wanting in her eyes And he is
ashamed of failure. And he is quite
helpless. He must go where he is
sent and do what he is told to do,
even to his undoing.
Besides hurting the child, this
course of behavior hurts the teacher.
1t hurts the relatives, friends and
parents of the children when they
indulge in it. Hate and its allied
characteristics turn healthy energy
into unhealthy poison. 1t lowers
vitality. 1t confuses thinking. 1t
makes for all kinds of errors, social,
professional, practical, everyday
sorts. Nobody, no matter how high
his place. can afford to indulge in
meanness. And nobody, whatever
his relation to child. has the right
to subject him to such cruelty.
Maturity carries with it obliga-
tions to childhood and youth. The
strong protect the weak; the en-
lightened lead those who have not
understanding; the wise guide those
who are helpless. When two grown
people engage in personal combat
they ought TO be grown up enough
to fight it out without calling in the
children.
If quarreling people could stop
long enough to think clearly about
the children concerned they would
be less likely to wreck their own
hopes, ambitions and loves. Chill
dren are truly peacemakers. for
thought of their helplessness, their
need for protection and leadership
must give their elders something to
consider gravely If. instead of
using the children as weapons, they
could think Of them as special
charges there would be fewer broken
homes, fewer family feuds and hap
pier school days.