The Training of the Children.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, 25 December 1914, Page 2

The Training of the Children.

THE remarks made by the headmaster and headmistress of the Grammar School at the Annual Prize-Giving, on the training of our boys and girls were very much to the point and merit the attention of all parents who wish their children to grow up to he worthy citizens of our Empire. They apply to the children of our primary schools just as much as to those of the secondary schools, and every honest parent* will admit, that children nowadays .are allowed far too much liberty and too much money to spend. When on a remembers that nearly all the pocket-money is spent on rubbish, which is not only useless, hut is actually , harmful to the child, it is,a cause of wonder that parents do not put a stop to the practice of providing children with more money than they really need and thus providing them with the means of gratifying the very desires which should be kept in check. As regards liberty too, do not our children get l<>o much license to go and come as ..they please without ever being ejaestioned as to how they put in their time, especially at nigh!,'? It cannot be good for p us > u; of immature age to be ;:!! > v J to ?uide their own m >\ u ;! ; and actions in a world > full of homptatious as this i . But there seems, r . be a earnestness in the pa • nits of to-day vli c ) was ab in the parents >f last generati ) ’.. People nowalays are gui I i too much !»y v.'niL their n i ■; i hours do, and he spirit of .emulation has much ' tbie state of tilings. We do not uprose lb a l the parents of tola,y desii a t mir children to grow j t[)i.) b» (»t!l■ r than' worthy citi- j behind j

parents of an earlier generation to inculcate in their children habits of thrift and careful living, and the sense of responsibilty, which go so far as to make up the characters of our best men and women. After the struggle which is now in progress in Europe, the British Nation will have to take a more honourable and responsible position among the Nations than over she has done in the past, and if we are to hold that position against the nations, itis necessary that every man and woman that has any part in the uplifting of national truth and integrity must be of the highest character, and this can only be, if the training for the responsibilities of the adult is commenced, and diligently carried on in the child. We earnestly recommend the remarks of Mr Tibbs and Miss Butler to the earnest attention of our readers, and would point out that, in the training of the children it is better to be a little hard than a little easy.