Parental Training by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Aug 21, 1913

Parental Training

By Editor

IN an address given by Miss Mary Bartelme, a judge of the girls' department of the juvenile court of Cook County, Illinois, the following good counsel is offered to parents:—

I feel very much discouraged when parents come to me and seem so very helpless in regard to knowing where their children spend their evenings and nights. Children and young people go without parental restraint to picture shows and dances, and it never seems to occur to the parents to know what their children are doing until it is too late — when they have to tell their story in the juvenile court. How are you going to protect our girls? Educate your

boys! Parents, have some backbone and see that your children do what they ought to do instead of simply doing as they please. It makes one feel desperate in cases where boys and girls have had a chance. Parents permit their children to do things of which they themselves do not approve. Parents have too much of the passive attitude and no backbone. Just that lack of parental oversight has made boys and girls what they are. This makes for weak children morally. Parents should be strong leaders instead of weak followers. You must do as you ought, not simply as you want to do, or drift. Let parents and children spend their evenings together at such places as the parents approve.