Evening star., 1943-04-02
Students Should
Never Ridicule
CleVerneSS
Title of Teachers
Pet Makes Victim
Try Being Stupid
BY 4 neeIo Patri

John Thomas was getting poor
marks in all subjects. No teacher
who met him daily felt that he was
doing his best or anywhere near it,
but John Thomas would not give
any of them his attentive ear. When
Miss Anne talked to him about his
low marks in language he looked
past her with cool smile. as though
tolerantlv bearing with an Interrupt
ton. When Mr.. Jacques stopped
him in the hall to ask if there was
anything he could do to help him
with his math, now close to the
failure line, he tossed his head
with a superior manner and said
Nothing that I know about. I'm
passing, am I not?"
The teachers felt at a loss and
after consultation decided to send
one of their number to talk to John
Thomas father and mother When
the tale was told they said, 1--WE
know his marks have fallen off
lately. but we have no idea why
He stays in to study. He attends
school regularly But he does not
seem to want to apply himself.
Maybe he isn't well. He is growing
fast just now
But the doctor gave John Thomas
a clean bill of health. Father
decided to try his hand at the job
and took his son out for an outing
with him. During the day he found
chance to talk things over and
before long John was telling Dad
that if fellow was smart in school,
got lot Of A. and was talked about
by the teachers. the other fellows
shooed him away He was a sissy
teachers pet, and all that, so a
fellow just made out he was dumb
and got along all right
1t didn't take father long to put
the Ounce cap on the proper head
after that. John Thomas soon got
back to his proper place and stayed
there and he did not lack for friends
either But his problem is a real
one. Among the younger group of
adolescents there is q lot of that
feeling. To be bright is to be a
showoff, and nobody wants to be
that. To talk correctly is to be
professor, or some such creature. A
schoolboy penalty is put on high
achievement and unless teachers
and parents are on the watch, the
star of the class is the dumb one,
the one who cannot make the grade,
but who. by dint OF staggering,
bullying and ke-believing, per-
suades the others that it is he, not
the bright pupil, who is No boy
Or girl 1t is a childish error but
its effect is far reaching.
Fathers and mothers would do
we'll to hold a high standard of
speech, manners and morals, high
standard of work and achievement,
ever before their adolescent children
Teach them that they are known by
their behavior, measured by their
manners every day of their lives The
neighbors are watching. ready to
cheer for good deeds, ready to de-
plore failures. And 1t is the neigh
bors' opinions that sustain a young
persons reputation.
His reputation is important be-
cause it goes ahead of him in what
ever field he enters. AS We SOW ye
shall reap. Help the children under
stand this in the most impress
sionable years of their growth, early
adolescence.
Helping your child to adjust
himself happily to problems in
volved in meeting others. at home
and in school. is the theme Of
Angelo Patri's booklet, Your
Child and Other People" No. 304.
To obtain it, send 10 cents and a
3-cent stamp to him in care Of
The Washington Star.