Show Habit of Concentration Must M st Gi J Be Acquired Early in Youth By OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON rite big bl- cry of ot the colleges es' es se seems ms to be he They dont don't know how t to stull study They've never b been cn tau to concentrate Ask any my high school principal what ho he considers I tho greatest I drawback to success In Q e education l and I think he ho will say aay that lack Jack of application is the Jinx of tho ho whole affair Iron How many times do parents say MY George Gc is b a n. smart mart boy but he hc wont won't study Ho lie do doesn't nt apply himself Everybody E agrees it but I no one seems I to know Just what causes es it t. t This matter of oC application application tion It is acknowledged cd is a vital thing RUt and In Jn some somo vague bue way Its It's something to blare on somebody else Tha Tho college o blames it on tho the high school or preparatory school chool thc they blame it on tho the grade blade schools school the grade grado schools on the thc parents and the parents on the teachers There Thero you havo have it and In tho the meantime George slips sUp through and under sometimes to his exter exter- extermination educationally sometimes sometimes some some- me times l successfully In tho the latter case approaching approaching- mans man's estate and being able ablo to do a R. little phil philosophizing o himself George o usual usually pulls himself up b by the bootstraps In to time td to t avert catastrophe WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT Now Just does this re- re re responsibility p for getting J lessons He lie With tho tiro child T I Tea hut but who Is going to put it there Who is goIns bOIng goIng go- go Ing Ins to make mako him see that application lion tion in to everything Is la tho the only key to success The old simile of leading the horse to watt water water- fits tho the case c exactly Ho wont won't drink if I ho he lo isn't thirsty and that's a L fact tact But who is to mako hint him thirsty Tho rho school chool Is the fountain Jn Wo We can send a child ther daily but bul If It he ho isn't thirsty you a absolutely cant can't make e him drink You cant can't I beat belt him nor drive Mm nor Hor scold him to it St If It he doesn't like to tot t study study- dy there thera are a n. thou thousand and w ways 15 for him lm to get out of ot it and ad he will Interest is one ono of the secrets of application But it is only half Theother The Theother Theother other half halt is lack of ot fear and perhaps perhaps per vcr haps 1 It should hould bo be put first Not fear of ot teachers exactly but a ape ape- peculiar peculiar pe pe- culiar fear fear about stud study Childrens Children's minds 11 too often orten are arc In Ina Ina ina a state of ot confusion because of this fear about hout their lessons They're afraid ot of something h if thc they dont don't get et them This Tills tightening inhibition tion f or fear Cear paralyzes para think thinking loS loS' They're afraid someone is going to tobe tobo tobo bo be cross S if Ie they cant can't get it Just right Defeated before beCore they begin Isn't It obvious then that in early school years results or marks Bra are less Jess important than habit and habit of ot application must bo be learned while children are aro still foUlI HUla little and in inan inan inan an atmosphere of ot pl pleasantness not not scolding And tr threats ats but kindness and nod encouragement The responsibility is two fold That of both parent and teacher I First to get g t his hIs' interest t and then to hold it and nod build on ort It by urging urging urs- urs ing log him to try and md try a again ln The habit will m sot lot and stick stick- with him through h school and college NEA college NEA |