Milford chronicle., 1940-10-18
HOME EDUCATION
Tide Ehiid's Firsf School Is fhe
FamiIyD-FRoEBEL
Issued by The National Kinderaaftsu
Asaociatiou, 3 West 10th stfest
heu xorE cltY
zee
WHAT SHOULD CHILDREN
EXPRESS9
LELIA MUNsELl.

The incidents mere related illustrate
dangerous perversion Of a sound
principle in child development
These are extreme cases, but they
are almost verbatim reports Of ac-
tual occurrences.
A visiting professor Trom an cas-
tern college was giving a series Of
lectures In a Midwest university.
He and his wife and two children
were entertained at dinner at the
home OF a local professor. When
they came into the dining room, the
children, Horace and Maud, began
to inspect the table.
Whats that?" Maud demanded.
She was told It was roast pork.
"Aw, we don't like roast pork"
objected Horace. What kind Of sal
ad is that2'
"That is tuna and cucumber sal
ad."
The children exchanged grimaces
Of repugnance. What are yousgOing
to have for dessert?" asked Maud.
II was to be blueberry pudding.
Again they expressed disapprOval.
I'VE don't like that. either. Haven't
you got anything that fit to eat?"
asked Horace.
The hostess was embarrassed. but
not so the parents. children must
express themselves, you know" they
said, laughing.
Certainly; children must be privil-
eyed to express themselves; a re-
pressed child is likely TO be a defeat
ed adult. But what, with regard to
themselves, shall they express, and
how shall they express It?
Shall the small boy who shot all
the windows out Of the garage be
excused on the grounds that he is
expressing his craftsmanship? Shall
the little girl who made it a habit
to punch guests in their stomachs
and shout, Il hate you" be forgiven
because she was expressing her real
feelings? Should Benny be allowed
to mix up all the seeds in the seed
store because he is trying to ex-
press his interest in experimental
tiOn? Is Il all right for Ann to
scratch pictures on her hosts furni-
ture in an effort to express her ar
t.stic ability?
Emphatically. children should not
only be allowed, but encouraged, to
express themselves. But these chill
dren were really not expressing
themselves. they were expressing 3
reaction OF the moment Being still
in the early stages of development,
they all needed help. Children should
be encouraged to express good man
ners, not bad; self-control, not tenn
per: respect for property, not de-
stFuctiVeness; kindness. not selfish
ness; love, not hate.
How? That's the question. 1t can
be done, but the recognition of GER
tain facts is necessary.
First, we must recognize that all
lovely traits are inherent in child
nature. and that the unloVely ones
are the result of unfortunate expert
ences. Our task is to assist the child
to develop the right ones and to re-
place those that are wrong.
Second, we must recognize the
fact that a certain amount and kind
Of control is necessary, In order that
our children may be given their
Ilghtful opportunity for desirable
We must modify and |
sdapt the old maxim Children |
should be seen. not heard" rather |
than abolish it altogether. To illus
trate: no matter with whom Mother
is talking. Maud Interrupts every
few words to express" something of |
Interest to her alone. Should she not !
be shown that 1t would be very Inn
polite for Mother to do that, hence
L is impOlite for her9 Mother might /
say: Lets wait until you and are
alone. Well have more time to talk
that over" And when they were
alone she should keep her promise
and lovingly explain why the con-
/ tersation had to be postponed.
Third, whatever we want our chill
dren to express in public, we must
help them to feel and to express at
nome. If we ignore desire on the
part of a child to punch us in the
stomach and scream, 81 hate you,"
we need not be surprised II she does
both, not only when we are alone
lut when we have guests.
Yes indeed. Children must ex-
press themselves, II we would have
hem develop normally. but II is our
to see that they have
he thoughts and feelings which
when expressed. will be socially de-
Irable.