[1926-07-10] Teaching Moderation

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Clipping from 7/10/1926

"It is more important to teach our young people to be moderate in things all than to surround them with prohibitions." So with says a good Household, whose letter follows. She strikes the keynote of keeping control of the adolescent child. "Old men for counsel, young men for action," is as true now as it ever was. We cannot hope to repress our young people with "Thou-shalt-nots." It is natural and inevitable that they should be active, alert, up and doing. We must not try to curb this activity, only try to guide it and keep it within proper and sensible bounds.

It is natural for them to "run with the pack." We must not try to isolate them or make them too different from the folks their age with whom they must associate. It is the duty of every parent to set restraints and limits on the children, for the sake of their health and welfare, but for every "Thou shalt not" let's try to provide a "This you may do." If we object to dancing, cards, smoking, parties, extreme styles, let's provide some wholesome amusement in their stead. Or, let's permit certain kinds of parties and dancing under certain supervision and restriction. "Teach them to be moderate in all things, rather than surround them with prohibitions."