Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1913 — GRANT CHILD RIGHTS [ARTICLE]

GRANT CHILD RIGHTS

- ■, ; LET HIM MOLD HIMSELF, 18 ADVICE GIVEN BY WRITER. Putting ft In Another Way, m LKtfcv “Letting Alone” le a Wise Course for Parents to Pursue—Matter of Freedom. Let your children alone. Do not neglect them. There is a difference between a wise letting alono and a foolish neglect There have been probably aa many* children spoiled by over-management! as by negligence. Don’t forget that the prime right, of a chiid is the right to' Ms owa| - personality. In fact, his chief business in life is to develop properly thee expression of that personality,. How? can he do this if he is hedged and thwarted by you? A child learns by three means—by? experience, by example and by atmos-t phere. It is doubtful if didactic teaching! and preaching ever did much good to* anybody, child or grown-up. Only inspirational preaching is qf any ao-> count. To let the child touch the stove and get hurt a little is far better than tOf say “You mustn’t touch It!” Be chary of your commands. Every* useless order is a burden that inter-' seres with his growth and tends to< alienate him from you. . Let him run as free- as you darou One lesson he learns from his ownt experience is worth a dozen he get* from you. How many little lives are rendered? utterly wretched by the loving bnt bv rltating tyranny of parents. The little ones are crossed at every torn* The mother Is continually scolding* s the father breaking In at times with, sharp prohibitions. The queer part of all this is that those parents think they are doing their high duty by the child. They propose to give their children some “bringing up” and not let them “rna wild.” So they cramp, thwart, oppose the growing mind. Children are sharp. They soon adjust themselves to this, and get their parents’ measure. Then they turn to become one or two things—“good,” 1 that is, shrewd little hypocrites, prigs and time-servers; or “bad.” that is. angrily insistent upon having a life of their own. Study the child, seek to bring out what is in him. Don’t study your catechism or "system of education” and try to make your child measure up to that. There Is no genuine morality without freedom. Anything done from fear is immoral. Even the “goodness” yonr child puts on because he is afraid of you is wicked. Qnit trying to mold your child. Stand by and belp him. Let him mold himself. Be his friend. Let him feck you understand him. A lot 6f our "moral principle” is mere self-conceit and vanity of opinion. and we think we are doing God’s services when we impose our egotism on others, particularly upon helpless, youth. Study the child, live with him, miter into his life and point of view, encourage him in what he wants to do, sympathize with him. —Exchange.