The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-10-15
WORDS MAY FORM A
SHINING ARMOR
BY LUCIA MALLORY

The Bush family had just moved
from their native village to town
where Mr.. Bush had secured work in
an airplane factory. The three chill
dren, Scia. Martin and Walter, found
it rather difficult, at first, to adjust
themselves to playmates who had been
brought up so differently from them
selves.
AS weeks passed, Mr.. and Mrs. Bush
learned that the children's new ac-
quaintances had many undesirable
habits, that they used coarse express
sions and that rudeness and discour-
tesy were the general rule with most
of them.
When Martin and Walter began to
acquire some of these Objectionable
they heard, it was plain enough that
the method of teaching behavior which
seemingly had worked so well in the
home town was not satisfactory for the
new environment. The principles of good
breeding had evidently not been firmly
enough established. They We're not
standing the test.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bush re-established the
famlys early childhood practice of
constant drill in common pOliteness.
Father, Mother and the children made
it an unbreakable rule to say, 'Thank
YOU" for all kindneSSes, and the plea
sure 10 be gained from being kind was
repeatedly stressed through opportuni-
ties. for experiencing it. They were
careful TO say, ::If you please" for
anything desired and, Excuse me-" for
accidents or accidental OtfenSes. The
parents meant to try to build habits
which would stand by the children as
long as they lived.
Running concurrentIy with the teach
! ing and practice of habitllal courtesy
and kindness, they went on to accus-
tom the children 10 the use of fitting
words and phrases with which to speak
of different things that are good, beau
tiful and desirable They taught them,
things as well as in uncommon things
They taught them 10 comprehend such
distractions as courage patience
wisdom" "knoWIcdge," understand
ing" tr
These parents halized their children
also needed coloquial speech which is
50 commonly used about ordinary mat.
ters. Besides this, they definitely eX
planned 10 their children how much
some people love to tease. They gave
them words and phrases to answer
with: You can't be in earnest" i
don't believe you would do that !" Ever
slang phrases that We're current: Jaw
liddIestickS!" :" "Oh, yeah?" YOU'D b,
surprised
How well this worked, Mrs. BuSl
han IN opportunity to learn one day
when Il much larger boy came to play
with Martin. This boys mother calleC
him to bring her some wood. He urgec
Martin to do it FOR him--to carry the
load of wood in to his mother while
he Went on playing with his ball.
Martin refused: the other boy in
sisted. Finally, taking out his knife
the boy said, IF you don't go right
now, I'll-I'll cut your ears Off"
Martin said, "Go and take your OWL
wood in Ddh't YOU know yet-you saI
YOU can't kid mc?'
The boy looked up, wide-eyed, "Ol
course | do" he said, and tucking his
bah into his pocket, he carried in the
load of wood and brought back II gift
Look, | made these two airplanes,
he said. Want une?"
The boys talked about airplanes fo,
he next ten minutes, and there was n,
more diSScnSiOn.
Mrs. Bush reported this episode I,
Mr.. Bush and they sought more Way'
of arming their children against the
eNigencieS of their days.
In IL changing world" say theS'
wise parents, Ill isn't going to be pos
Sible to segregatc our children in ordeI
TO keep them unspotted. What theI
shall we do?
I'VE must give them ways and mean
To apply teachings that homes an'
churches and schools give as theories
give them words to say, acts To do
practical applications to make. W.
must not fail them at any point; ant
To do this we must keep our own pre-
cept and our own practice consistent
high and worthy.
IF our teaching doesn't 30 deel
enough To stand he test of an alien en-
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