Evening star., 1939-01-03
DOnineering
YOungster
Checked
Honest Discipline
Will Never Spoil
Talented Child
BY ANGELO PATRI.

"Marjory Is very attractive, very
bright, and full of energy. She in
sists upon talking the lead wherever
she goes, and If the other children
dispute her leadership she fights
back, hard. If she Is not first she
is very unhappy. How can I control
her without spelling her talents?"
Let US get one point set. A talent
that can be spoiled by training and
discipline, good manners and intelli-
gent behavior generally. Is no talent.
Talents 60 with intelligence and
intelligence always recognizes the
necessity Of self-control, considera-
ton for others. and the like.
No matter how gifted a person
may be, without self-control and
self-discipline he must fail. No.
body. however great, can live alone.
He must have the support of his
own conscience, loyal friends and a
host Of vell-wishers If he Is to Sue
coed. Domineering people have no
friends, earn few loyalties and sell
dom succeed to any worthwhile ex-
tent.
This being timid In the presence
of spoiled children is q recent de-
velopment in parenthood. It will
have to be wiped out. Children
need the spiritual support Of par
ents who believe in themselves. A
doubling, timid parent will not lead
q child to successful ways, nor will
he be able. in emergency, to fall
back on his authority, as parents
often have to do. A child, however
gifted, is a child. He needs the
guidance Of experienced and afYec-
tionate parents and relatives and
teachers. His mistakes must be
pointed out. ways Of amendment
suggested. He must be shown op-
portunities for self direction and
self-discipline. He must be led or
driven to service for others. He
must learn humility, for only by
that road is he going to learn how
small a place is his in this great
creation we call the universe.
Domineering children may be
leaders. Oftener they are timid
children trying to boost themselves
by making loud noises and putting
on q bold show. As q usual thing
gifted children are good compan-
ions. sharing what comes and ac-
cepting 1t gracefully enough when
the luck goes against them. The
domineering child is usually a Sec
ond rater who has not intelligence
enough to see that it is better to
share than to grab, and he USUALLY
Is cast out into utter loneliness.
In any case children must learn
to share life with all who come their
way. They have to learn to make
room for others, to strive for ton
place, but be resigned to taking a a
second one when necessary. Nobody
likes defeat. but most of us can
learn to take 1t without grouchine
especially without trying to oust
some one else who passed us in
the race.
This lesson does not come easily
to most children. It has to be
learned by painful experiences, and
those experiences often have to be
backed by authority, advice, en-
couragement and sympathy of the
older folk. We cannot afford to be
timid about correcting children
when we see them making serious
mistakes. Domineering and grab
bing are serious mistakes and we
have to be quick and firm in cor
recting them Sound correction,
honest discipline, never have and
never will spoil q talented child.
The lack Of them has ruined many.
tCopyrisht. 1890