Thoughts for the Young

Title

Language

English

Source

Volume 1 (Issue no. 8) September 1935

Year

1935

Subject

Conduct of life

Social values

Social consciousness

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

220 THE YOUNG CITIZEN September, 19~~5 KIKO'S ADVENTURES - He was a careless cook. by ~ilmo baldov'il'lo l'LI. 1:£.'t r"7,M.~---: T'l..A T-1< S". -·;;NPW, 'l'PR. "TH'f' I-SJ+ __ _ Thoughts for the Young By D, A, HERNANDEZ IN your effort to develop in your- po!iceness is decidedly not a result take delight· in handling a broom self a .good character. rernem- of Cold calculation of what conse- and sweeping the floor and yard her that habits are not the on- quences impoliteness may bring of their homes. See how many ly elements that constitute its found- upon oneself. Such politeness springs mothers and elder sisters have to ation and its power. from a deeper sentiment o_f love. of do the work themselves while these Yes. you should form the habit respect, of humanity. Such bebavi0r school children, whom they tire of doing certain things in the ~ight is the fine breath of inner goodness. themselves to death in order to send way. and unless you do such things But most of our so.called habits to school. do nothing but play. hibitually and not merely from im an.: not rooted deep in the sou!. Now, dear boys and girls. chis pulse, you cannot be said to have Sometimes we do certain things in is all wrong. and there is somea well-built or established character. chc right way only under certJin thing wrong in the way they deHabics should be so formed anci cirl"umstances. For· example, we vclop their character. And what is should so impel you that you feel find children who observe certain wrong? Here it is. and remember th(m to be as strong and as span· bi.:autiful forms of conduct in deal- it- They have ilot formed in their caneous as your inborn instincts. If ir.0 with their teachers and forget hl'arts and minds those ideals from you act politely from an idea you them or even consciously violate which our acts should spring. those have been taught in school abouc thrm in dealing ·with others. We ideals that give color and meaning the value of politeness. thinking of find. too, children who are polite to to all worthy acts and deeds. The it everytime you find occasion co their teachers only as long as they habits that they form or .have show politeness in your behavior. an~ in their charge. formed have no root in their guidyou have not truly formed the habit Just observe their rooms in inp- beliefs, convictions. sentiments. of being polite. school. Consider the diligence with Doing certain things in certain The best test or one of the best which the pupils clean the floors ways with no better idea than pleasing their teachers and getting a good te~ts of politeness is seen when a person suddenly finds himself in a fit of anger. When one is excited by a violent feeling, his power of thinking is generally much hampfred, darkened, or diminished. If. in spite of the violent feeling that possesses his mind. he does not ut· ter harsh or insulting words, then he can truly be said to have formed the habit. and make them as shiny as mir· rnrs. You. can find no pieces of paper lying about. You step on the cold and slippery surface and feel delighted by the total absence of dust. We say that these pupils ar~ daily forming the habit of clean· liness. We may suppose that they h<:.ve formed the good habit when the school closes and they go home for a lodg rest. gr..1de, they fail co develop ideals that will last throughout life. When a child has set before his mind a certain ideal of conduct. a deep and geli.eralized feefing for what !s right and good. his habits of action have such a strong foundation that they will never forsake him. He will never forget them. He will be as hard as stone in the face of the st1ongest temptations. More than Such politeness is not merely a But go and visit most ot their that. he may· not have the habit quality of external behavior. Such homes. See how many of them of doing a certain worthy act, an September, 1995 Words by J. l-logg !'.ii.rd. of the Wild ts thy I#; THE YOUNG CITIZEN The Skylark d JI 22! Music by Antonio Munoz Tanjay, Negros Or. <..c>i.l -da--r-- ne.ss, .!::>lithe-some "nd cum-.be,-:.... less, La.y a~ loud ra-r- i-n. lh.e. down.7 cloud., I ff~ ~ ~ h 5w-eet be- Hy >na-t- ""' o '.,,,.. moor- - la.nd t ... a-1 bi.-r-!:1-.... lov"" L"Y"'- ':JW"'S i.t "'"-_'"',.. --9y' <j8-V<2- . ;,1::. ~m.-l:>lem of ha;p-fc-r-ess, f>lesl:- cs l:k_y .Jw .. ll-in~ place,. lllkre, on th.y dew- y w ""3 , wk,,.." a.rt H"'u jour--ney-i"'j? l~&kf ,#,~ &Jlj 18JJ1j#/J~dl ;J Oh.! to a-bide Lt"\. th.e. des-er-l- with -1\\ee,1.)in:L or the. -wi.L-ckr-1'ess. Thy l".Y;. ti"'. heav-,-e"'-• Hy lov"' 015 on. e.a.rl1',~),,..J. ot th.e- wi.l-.J..,...-1'.ess. act that is still new to him. but h~ all your work. In the face of an dcrstanding them. This is a ·very will perhaps inevitably form the entirely new problem. your habits bad habit, for it means mental·lazi habit by reason of that deep and may help you, but they may prove ness and what they call mental flabgcneralized feeling for what i~ right more disastrous to you. You should, biness. anC what is good, so strong and im- therefore. not depend upon your pelling in him. habits alone. Habitual ways of doThe main defect of our educa · tion, then, is failure to form those Lacking in this fundamental ele- ing certain things in a certain way habits of action that develop from mmt. your education will be almost may be right under certain condi- a certain fixed, well-defined ideal of useless. Nay, it may prove. a real tions, but not under other condi- conduct. Habits are just habits. harm to you. Education may only tions. There are no ~stablished idi::als beshow you more effective ways of At your age this is perhaps hard hind them, ideals that control them doing what is not right and good. to understand, but keep it in your wherever they go. convictions that And then you should -remember. n.ind and light will gradually comf' will inspire them and strengthen above all. that what: is right and to you as you grow in years. Do throughout life. Convictions are what is good are things that depend, no• form the habit of reading and the soul of a good character. Habnot upon habits, but upon reason. remembering things so easy that you its are just tools with which conYou cannot let your habits perform do not have to think at all in un- victions are made effective:.

Media