The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-02-02
To Each His Talent
FRANCES DUNLAP HERON

The mothers of the second grade
pupils were leaving school after at
tending 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.
Il envy you every time | hear her
sing. She has more musical talent
than any other child in the group. If
only my Donald had her ability!'
"Of course Pm proud Of Marianne"
Sylvia replied. "But music isn't the
only thing in life. Do you mind, Mar
tha, if | speak to you about something
personal 2"
why, of course not, Sylvia"
ITS about Donald Ever since I've
known you, threee years now, you've
lamented over and over again the fact
that Donald doesn't show aptitude in
music. Now tell me honestly why you
feel so keenly about it,"
"Well, you see, Frank and I just
naturally expected our child would be
musical. Both of our families have
more than average talent. You know
yourself Frank plays and sings beau
tifully and"
you're delightful organist, violin
ist and singer-Pll save your mod
esty," Sylvia interrupted laughingly
"And you dreamed of Donalds carry
ing 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 we'll to carry a tune.
But, we thought Marianne would be
a shining Intellectual light, perhaps
linguist or historian or scientist. Look
at Vick's family Of teachers and liter
ary people. And if | do say so, my
lawyer husband is pretty smart-Phi
Beta and all that And ], well, at least
my school work was my joy, and
was always disappointed if | 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 in
genuity. Hoping to bring out what
we could not find, we sent her to kim
dergarten. Miss Meloy, the teacher,
studied every child carefully, and l
marvel yet at her insight.
Zone day after several months of
school she was having conferences
with parents. Mrs. Thompson she
said to me, you and Marianne's father
are trying to mold her instead of let
ting her develop in her own way. You
want her to be deeply intellectual
person. Marianne has not that turn
Of mind. | doubt if she was born to
be a great thinker. But for a child
Of her age she has talent for music
and an appreciation Of rhythm and
beauty that are remarkable. Develop
them
"'That young kindergarten teacher
opened our eyes, and we're trying to
follow her advice. Now about your
Donald. | 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 wonder
full. At play, he is the one who de-
vises games and leads. Don't you
see? Forget his lack of musical
genius and help him develop his own
particular gifts. Why the scholarly
should have a musical
daughter and the musical Kents a
son is just one of the queer
tricks heredity plays"
Martha Kent was thoughtful. "To
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? | know lot Of parents
who expect their children to be like
them. | suppose it's our egotism."