| Show Be Courteous Your Children Will Respond COURAGE AND CONFIdence deuce dence may be taught from the cradle Development of I fear ear may be avoided if par par- parents parents appeal to childs child's reason and treat him hint with full con- con consideration consideration consideration and amI courtesy By JANETTE STEVENSON MURRAY pHILIP P filLIP is six years old and at- at attends attends 1 tends the university elementary school a mile miJe and a half from his home He goes on the the- streetcar transferring at the downtown sta sta- tion It was during the first cold snap in November that he arrived at school one morning mornin and found the door locked Bobbie whose mother had just let him out of her auto at the corner and driven home was in inthe inthe inthe the same plight A neighbor had promised to phone the mothers of these two boys bos that there would be beno beno beno no school but had forgotten to do so Say Bobbie we can just go back backon on the streetcar See I have my nickel nick l said Philip But I haven't any nickel re re- replied replied re- re replied plied Bobbie Mama always comes for me Oh maybe we can phone her suggested Philip My mother wont won't be home for she takes Brother to the kindergarten and goes to her classes Lets Let's go in the schoolhouse Theres There's a phone in the office I know But the doors door's locked said Bob Bob- Bobbie Bobbie bie tears gathering in his eyes Yes its it's locked said Philip as ashe ashe ashe he turned from fumbling with the handle Oo Its It's cold I The boy with only a light overcoat for or or protection pro pro- protection protection shivered in his socks and short trousers Bobbie he said home do I II dont don't know the way you No uNo I never went home alone and Bobbie began to cry Although Philip knew Bobbie only as he had seen him in class it never occurred to him to use his own nickel and go home leaving Bobbie alone Oh stop crying said Philip on the he verge of tears himself I dont don't know nov what to dp but do-but but we have to todo tolo todo do lo something Kid or well we'll freeze Say I why cant can't we follow the street street- streetcar streetcar car ar track The car that always takes akes me has to go on that track I know where your house is when Im I'm on the car He grabbed Bobbies Bobbie's hand and they hey began their long trudge back backon on n the sidewalk beside the rails down lown through the town where Philip always transferred and then along by Y the other car line They were very cold and the biting northwest wind progress Teath Teah Self Oh what are the boys doing here exclaimed Bobbies Bobbie's mother as the boys appeared The door was locked There wasn't any school cried Bobbie But how did you OU ever find your way home Why Thy we just followed the tracks cause that's the way the cars go said Philip in a of matter-of-fact tone Our Mothers Mother's club has been much interested in Philip Philip his his independence in ence grit self assurance frankness and mature reasoning Have you educated Philip with the idea of making him self self-reli- i ant we asked his mother No uNo I think that was done in kindergarten kin kin- kindergarten she answered smiling but his teacher felt that his father and I had helped him by avoiding the development of fear When Wh n learning to walk he sometimes fell Then we would speak casually of the cause the rumpled rug for instance in in- instance instance stance diverting him from his dis dis- discomfort comfort We often sent him into dark rooms to get things assuming as a matter of course hed he'd go He has never feared the dark As a toddler I let him walk alone out- out doors of-doors of as far as it was safe When we went on the street I gave him the idea of protecting me from the automobiles Although very solicitous solicitous solicitous tous about my safety he had no fear Tell us how you deal with him when naughty we asked for our club has hs a feeling that it takes great wisdom to retain a proper authority over the bright child and still allow him enough freedom to insure self- self reliance I deprive him of privileges occa occa- occasionally occasionally occasionally if the connection is clearly evident his mother replied Lec Lecturing Lecturing turing or demanding dem accomplishes nothing Im I'm not always wise but buthe buthe buthe he trusts me and doesn't deceive me When his father or I appeal to his reason and treat him with the courtesy accorded a grown person he almost always responds in in- National Kindergarten f ft t Service Association |
