Milford chronicle., 1940-03-01
0O0
YOUR CHILD'S MOTHER
CORA NJ. snvIUs

One Saturday morning, l called on
a kindergarten teacher, not so much
in my official capacity-one of the
visiting teachers of our city-but as
a friend. 1t. was pleasant spring
morning, so we sat on the porch.
Pointing out two small tots she told
me about them.
"Donny, the one in the blue suit,
and Martin, the one in green, are
very dear to me- she said. Their
mothers were my college chums, and
they both married cousins of mine
We were called the Happy Trio in
school. Marcy is still happy, and
Donny shows it, but Irene for some
reason has formed a fault-finding
habit. Her small son has caught the
spirit, and he is having much TO
overcome in kindergarten as re-
suit He is very bright and repeats
verbatim what he hears at home, and
so he has a tendency to be critical
of everything and everybody.
"DOnny, on the other hand. is
most carefree youngster. and he Oh
tens quotes to other children favor
ite saying of his mothers, You ana
the best you could. But let's Try
harder the next time.
Have you talked with Martins
mother about being careful OF what
she says before him." asked Since
you were such chums ! should thlnk
she might listen to you.
Is Yes, of course have talked WIN
her about it, but she gets cross. she
says I'm only teacher and not a
mother. and that her baby is too
young to notice things.
But something will have TO be
done. The boy must not be allowed
to grow up like that" l protested.
Il agree that something will have
to be done. But what?''
We spent the next hour discussing
the problem and evolved the follow
ing plan.
We realized that seeing things in
black and white often will make
more impression than spoken words.
So the Kindergarten teacher was to
write out report on several young !,
sters-Martin and some that she had
taught in another school of our city
during the fall term She would call
them A. B, and so forth. The re-
ports were to he typed. and the kin
dergarten supervisor, not the kind
ergartner. was to give me carbon II
copies. They were to be unsigned.
Several days later | had three OF
the reports with me when | called
at Martins home / had already made
two other calls nearby. leaving a
pamphlet on THE CARE OF THE
IINDERGARTEN CHILD.
Il wonder if you would be inter
cstCd in this" | said to Martins
mother, passing her a copy OF the
pamphlet 1T is free and contains
some valuable helps. And here are
reports Of three children in our city
schools Would you care to read
thcm?"
she ah-4laa- l;alAlllit 81 4 -.;lnd SUI -
ed Then she read the report of B !
her child Her face flushed.
who. are these boys? Who is the
teacher?" she demanded.
"They are unsigned, as you sec.
received them with the pamphlets
from the supervisor. All l can tell
you is that the reports are genuine.
They are records of real boys in this
city. The reports may come from
different schools, but they are true
cases"
May have these papers?' she t
said in low voice Il shall read
.hem and this booklet. am afraid
NY own son has become very critical l
Of late" I
The plan worked. The mother real s
zed that She could blame no one but ;
herself for her child's unfortunate '
habit. And she still thinks it was :
some Othor child that she was read '
ng about that morning. Martin is J
low a happy hoy. lie no longer hunts /
or the thorns on every rose. Ii