Evening star., 1943-01-06
Youngsters Need
Applause From
Their Adults
Reward Good Deeds
By Keeping Record
OF achievements
BY A nqeIo Pafri

Children cannot go on working
without attention from some re-
spected older person. Come and
see what have DONE" is a plea for
recognition which must never be
denied. For every step taken by a
child there must be somebody ready
to applaud. Childish? Yes, but we
are dealing with children, and with
out intention to hurt any ones
pride, grownup people carry this
trait down to old age. Else why the
scrolls and the loving cups and the
medals?
Every school must have its ad-
miration society. Whenever a group
has accomplished task there must
be a celebration. The greater the
accomplishment, the louder the
praise. Give party put on a pro-
gram, feature the well-doers.
In every school, club, organization
of any sort that deals with children
in wartime there should be a book
OF records. Call it by some fine
name, such as the Book of Golden
Deeds. In that book, inscribed in
the most beautiful hand possible, is
to be written the name and the deed
of each honored boy and girl. That
is little to ask, but it weighs a great
deal today and will weigh more to-
morrow in the lives of the people
whose names are set there.
At the same time keep a picture
record of events and those who
share In them. Every school. every
town has a good photographer who
will be delighted to take the pic
lures. There is always some teacher
or interested citizen to keep the
record. The materials used in these
books must be the best that can
be found for this is record of his
tory and is going to be valuable be-
yond measure in time to come. What
would we give for such a history of
the American Revolution?
Once or twice a year have a big
assembly and invite the parents
and the leaders of the community to
attend. Plan good program in
which there will be much singing
much dramatic activity for the
children, chance for the workers
to shine. Keep the grown people as
background, as a cheering squad
and don't let them make speeches
more than three minutes long.
Bestow ribbons and medals. am
for the buttons and ribbons. They
cost little and many of them can be
handed out so that every child has
a chance to feel honored if he wants
to make the effort. The most cov-
eted honors in the world are repre-
sented by a tiny scrap of colored
ribbon. Tell the children about that
and make them feel the importance
of the ribbon they win.
Call each honored child by name
Have him come to the platform and
make his bow and receive the cheers
and applause and the ribbons. Let
the honored guest on the platform
rise and shake his hand and wish
him we'll.
If all this seems q WEAKNESS to
your old bones, you should not be
dealing with children because all
this fuss and to-do is the breath OF
a child's nostrils. It feeds his
spirit. It inspires him with an am
bition to do and to become. II
challenges the slow one to move to
get up and do likewise and sc
spread the gospel of service.
1t does more. No man or woman
however weary of the world, how.
ever beset, can attend a gathering
Of jubilance such as this is meant
to be without catching the spiri,
Of the children and taking q new
lease on life. An hour spent with
children who have deserved well o.
the community Is tonic for thu
most jaded spirit. It u recon.
mended for al war-weary workers.