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AN OPEN LETTER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD FAULTS AND THEIR REMEDIES CHARACTER BUILDING PLAY OCCUPATIONS ART AND LITERATURE IN CHILD LIFE STUDIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FINANCIAL TRAINING RELIGIOUS TRAINING APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN THE SEX QUESTION FATHERS THE UNCONSCIOUS INFLUENCE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY PROGRAM INDEX

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF HOME ECONOMICS

CHICAGO

January 1, 1907.

My dear Madam:

In beginning this subject of the "Study of Child Life" there may

be lurking doubts in your mind as to whether any reliable rules can

really be laid down. They seem to arise mostly from the perception of

the great difference between children. What will do for one child will

not do for another. Some children are easily persuaded and gentle,

others willful, still others sullen unresponsive. How, then, is

it possible that a system of education and training can be devised

suitable for their various dispositions?

We must remember that children are much more alike than they are

different. One may have blue eyes, another gray, another black, but

they all have two. We are, therefore, in a position to make rules for

creatures having two eyes and these rules apply to eyes of all colors.

Children may be nervous, sanguine, bilious, or plethoric, but they all

have the same kind of internal organs end the same general rules of

health apply to them all.

In this series of lessons I have endeavored to set forth principles

briefly and to confirm them by instances within the experience of

every observer of childhood. The rules given are such as are held at

present by the best educators to be based upon sound philosophy, not

at variance with the slight array or scientific facts at our command.

Perhaps you yourself may be able to add to the number of reliable

facts intelligently reported that must be collected before much

greater scientific advance is possible.

There is, to be sure, an art of application of these rules both in

matters of health of body and of health of mind and this art must be

worked out by each mother for each individual child.

We all recognize that it is a long endeavor before we can apply to our

own lives such principles of conduct as we heartily acknowledge to be

right. Why, then, expect to be able to apply principles instantly

and unerringly to a little child? If a rule fails when you attempt

to apply it, before questioning the principle, may it not be well to

question your own tact and skill?

So far as I can advise with you in special instances of difficulty, I

shall be very glad to do so; not that I shall always know what to do

myself, but that we can get a little more light upon the problems by

conferring together. I know well how difficult a matter this of child

training is, for every day, in the management of my own family of

children, I find each philosophy, science and art as I can command

very much put to the test.

Sincerely yours,

Instructor