Evening star., 1940-01-20
The Problem
OF Handling
Bad Child
Simpler Methods
Still Considered
Far the Best
BY ANGELO PATRI,

I listened to an earnest teacher
striving to tell q roomful Of teach
ers, many Of them gray in the serv-
ice, how to deal with children. For
forty-tive minutes he poured words
out upon us. Long, hard words,
strange words with many syllables
Orientation, maximated, authori-
tartan, nihilistic aggression and their
like.
OF course we understood the
meaning Of the words. We were all
trained teachers, but we felt that all
the while the brave man wrestled
with language that he was obscuring
the child, this "bad child" he was
trying to help us with, by this tide
of sound.
The great facts Of life are so
simple a child can call them by
name. The words we use for them
are small, short sounds, rich with
the meanings the centuries have
rolled into them. There is no need
for this ponderous vocabulary and
much need for the simpler, more
direct mode Of speaking. Parents
are frightened by the high-sound-
ing terms, and young teachers, those
who deal directly with the child in
question, are stunned by them. Let's
try to keep simple and be under
stood.
Children are elemental beings for
the most part. 1t is right and neces-
sary that doctors study to discover
what makes children what they are,
and maybe they need these terms for
accuracy in talking to each other.
For the rest of the world the simpler
words are best.
In any case, all study in the world,
all the scientific knowledge that the
best mind can Wrest from nature,
fails in the presence Of one human
child. If you doubt that, take one
abnormal child to the specialist. He
will do his best. He will measure
and test and fill out the blanks. He
will suggest routine of treatment
and care. And then he will say,
"Try." Never, If he is the honest
person a scientist is by nature, never
will he say, Surely this is true" He
does not know. Neither do you who
live with the child. Neither do I,
who tries to teach him. We hope,
we trust; we try. And what simple
words those are for such tremendous
qualities of spirit.
Let's hold to the sirnplicities Of
life when we can. They are beyond
our best efforts, but at least we won't
obscure them with language and
many gestures. When we meet an
unusual child let us study him with
all the power our scientific research
has given us, but let us keep to the
essential simplicities and express
them in simple terms.
All wisdom is not in this genera
ton. Some Of it came down to us
through the years. Our grand
mothers put bad child to bed and
gave him a physic, and that Is about
what the most informed children's
specialist will do with the same child
today. Grandmother would say,
"He's in bad temper" Maybe the
specialist will say, HE is hostile and
aggressive toward his environment" )"
The answer is the same. Quiet, rest,
care. Simple words for tremendous
qualities.
bad" children are not found
among happy children. Something
went wrong before they went "bad. /"
Mayor La Guardia's prescription of q
good beefsteak for the bad boy is as
fundamental a cure as can be found.
Three square meals q day, a decent
home, q fair chance to grow and the
bad-child problem Is solved. It is
as simple as that.
Mr.. Patri will give personal at
tention to inquiries from parents
and school teachers on the care
and development Of children.
Write him In care Of this paper.