TRAINING CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 7

TRAINING CHILDREN.

Sir, —It is such people # as " Indignant Father," " Sincere Friend," and "Patient Mother," who are the cause of so many uncontrollable children. I remember in a Court case a father saying he could not make bis six-year-old daughter and twelve-year-old son go to School. The magistrate asked, him why he. did not thrash the boy and make him go. The father replied that he did not like to as it made the boy cry. The magistrate then- gave the man a good talking to, saying, among other things, that it was such as he who made so many larrikins. If a boy steal apples the parents will now laugh and say it is only a boyish trick, instead of magnifying "the action, and giving him a caning. "Who steals a pin will steal a greater thing." The great trouble is that parents think they are training their children properly when they are not, as in the case in question. Any teacher will tell one that it is the badly-brought-up child that gives trouble when away from home. The above-men-tioned people taking the part of the boys are simply making others look upon wrongdoing as of little moment. We should be very thankful we have such a sensible magistrate. One of our greatest educationists said, "Give me a boy till he is twelve years old and I do not care who gets him afterwards." This means that if a boy is brought up properly till he is twelve he will keep straight afterwards. "Kingdom Come s" list of wrongdoers only shows the result of badlytrained childhood. If parents are unable to train children, then the magistrate must take a hand. Tor.