Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Editorial
September 8, 1882
Washington Standard
Olympia, Thurston County, Washington
What is this article about?
This editorial urges farm parents to encourage their boys by granting them small interests in crops, animals, or land to build self-dependence, work ethic, and financial skills, promoting family happiness and reducing discontent. Similar advice extends to girls.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Encourage the Boys.
Boys are, after all, only human, and like to be encouraged as well as men. If a man never received a word of encouragement from neighbors on the looks of his farm, the condition of his fences, or the good quality of his stock; if he never received an approving "yes" from his faithful wife as he relates the prospects and his plans, he would be the most miserable object of pity in the world. Yet, there are lots of boys who live at home and work on the farm till they are of age, and the father thinks because it is their duty they should not complain. It is their duty, but it is also the duty of the parent to prepare his boys to earn a living for themselves by teaching them self-dependence. Give your boys an interest, be it ever so small, in your growing crops. Make them feel that they are partners in a certain sense and not servants. If they can manage to pick up a pig or two, let them fatten them for their own use, and have the proceeds to spend as they choose. If you can afford it, give them a colt apiece, or a calf, and let them raise them for themselves. You will not miss the price of the animals nor the feed they consume. Besides, you will be gainer in the end. The boys will feel that they are of some consequence. They will work with a better will and take more interest in the farm. They will begin to learn the use and value of money. They will begin to learn how to save and accumulate. If the boys want a small piece of ground to plant in something that will bring in a few dollars give it to them cheerfully and encourage them to do something for themselves. Furnish them with plenty of good, substantial reading matter. Never under any circumstances make a boy feel that he is under everlasting obligations for the bread he eats and the clothes he wears, for while he works he is certainly entitled to wear and eat. Encourage the girls also, by giving them the products of a cow, or of a portion of the poultry, and in other ways. By thus adopting such a plan as we have intimated you will find that there is a better feeling, more cheerfulness and happiness, and much less discontent than we often see on the farm.-San Francisco Chronicle.
Boys are, after all, only human, and like to be encouraged as well as men. If a man never received a word of encouragement from neighbors on the looks of his farm, the condition of his fences, or the good quality of his stock; if he never received an approving "yes" from his faithful wife as he relates the prospects and his plans, he would be the most miserable object of pity in the world. Yet, there are lots of boys who live at home and work on the farm till they are of age, and the father thinks because it is their duty they should not complain. It is their duty, but it is also the duty of the parent to prepare his boys to earn a living for themselves by teaching them self-dependence. Give your boys an interest, be it ever so small, in your growing crops. Make them feel that they are partners in a certain sense and not servants. If they can manage to pick up a pig or two, let them fatten them for their own use, and have the proceeds to spend as they choose. If you can afford it, give them a colt apiece, or a calf, and let them raise them for themselves. You will not miss the price of the animals nor the feed they consume. Besides, you will be gainer in the end. The boys will feel that they are of some consequence. They will work with a better will and take more interest in the farm. They will begin to learn the use and value of money. They will begin to learn how to save and accumulate. If the boys want a small piece of ground to plant in something that will bring in a few dollars give it to them cheerfully and encourage them to do something for themselves. Furnish them with plenty of good, substantial reading matter. Never under any circumstances make a boy feel that he is under everlasting obligations for the bread he eats and the clothes he wears, for while he works he is certainly entitled to wear and eat. Encourage the girls also, by giving them the products of a cow, or of a portion of the poultry, and in other ways. By thus adopting such a plan as we have intimated you will find that there is a better feeling, more cheerfulness and happiness, and much less discontent than we often see on the farm.-San Francisco Chronicle.
What sub-type of article is it?
Agriculture
Education
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Farm Boys
Parental Encouragement
Self Dependence
Rural Family
Work Ethic
Financial Literacy
What entities or persons were involved?
Parents
Boys
Girls
San Francisco Chronicle
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Encouraging Boys On The Farm Through Ownership And Responsibility
Stance / Tone
Positive Exhortation For Parental Encouragement
Key Figures
Parents
Boys
Girls
San Francisco Chronicle
Key Arguments
Boys Need Encouragement Like Men To Avoid Misery
Parents' Duty To Teach Self Dependence Beyond Mere Labor
Give Boys Interest In Crops To Feel Like Partners
Allow Boys To Raise Pigs, Colts, Or Calves For Their Own Benefit
Providing Small Land Plots Fosters Initiative
Supply Reading Matter And Avoid Making Boys Feel Obligated For Basics
Extend Encouragement To Girls With Cow Or Poultry Products
Such Practices Lead To Better Family Cheerfulness And Less Discontent