fall upon parents in particular, and upon educators in general, the essential task of rearing adolescents, guiding them, and treating them in a way that accords with their psychological condition and their legitimate needs?
The crises of adolescents go back fundamentally to two active causes. The first is physiological, embracing all the organic modifications and developments during the period of adolescence; here we should mention the most important of them, namely the onset of the sexual function, accompanied by the growth of new hair on various parts of the body and a noticeable change in the voice. The second cause is purely psychological: it accompanies the individual's isolation and works with it in the attempt at reconciliation between the outer world and the world of the self. This attempt — this struggle, rather — the boy (or the girl) wages in this rugged stage of his life to find a road that will bring him to steadiness, to balance of mind, and to general stability — that balance and that stability which he has repeatedly sought throughout his three stages of childhood and their earlier upheavals, without obtaining any final result.
It is natural that the adolescent (whose age usually ranges between twelve and eighteen), after his repeated failures, should try to solve his problems by himself. If you turn to look at him, you will find him plunged in a sea of searching — for a future he dreams of, or a mission, or a calling that blazes before him like an alluring meteor, though it is remote of realization, if not a fantastic, impossible mockery...
During these dangerous years the adolescent separates himself from his companions and comrades and teachers — even from his family — in a manner that varies with personality, upbringing, and environment. He goes off alone, pursuing his sweet hopes and nursing them in secret; at one moment he appears to you an upright dreamer ruled by the enthusiasm of youth and its titanic strength, which may
drive him to give life and treasure for the sake of certain high ideals; at another you see him — after the fashion of the Romantics — much given to pessimism, hating the world and all that is in it...
It is for us, then — we the company of educators — to acquaint ourselves as far as we are able with the present circumstances of our adolescents, and to study their psychology with a careful, profitable study that will ease our educational task and accord with the interests of the new generation. But this comes only by mixing with them, and by an intelligent contact that increases their desire for practical life and props their hopes upon firm, unshakable foundations — this in addition to winning mutual confidence, which fixes love in hearts and conviction in breasts.
In this way the incidents of adolescents' vagrancy, and their flight from the homes of their families or from certain boarding schools and institutes, can be lessened.
How many and many are the
fallen women who fled their homes and joined the houses of prostitution because of repeated disagreements with their families, or ill-treatment at their hands — arising, without doubt, from a failure to understand adolescents at close quarters, and a failure to abide by the rules of sound upbringing!
In this way, too, the crisis of the maidservants can be treated — those who resort to thefts and to mischief in all its branches, a kind of revenge for ill-treatment or severe pressure from the masters of the house.
And thus a suitable solution can be found for other social problems of the present day. In a word: if we try to understand the circumstances of our adolescents, their inclinations and their desires, then we can treat them according to the principles of sound modern education, as the physician does after examination and study; and in handling their affairs lies the best influence upon them and upon us — for the interest is a common one!
Klim
1. Klim is sound, pure milk
2. Klim keeps its quality without a refrigerator
3. Klim is always kept in its uniform quality
In every tin of nourishing Klim you obtain the health benefits that you find only in fresh cow's milk. And Klim's uniformity of quality guarantees you sound milk at all times.
4. Klim, the leading powdered milk for children
5. Klim adds nourishment to sweets and dishes
6. Klim, the favorite taste for feeding infants
7. Klim — its special method of packing preserves its fullness
8. Klim stays fresh, wholesome, and appetizing through the stages of its preparation
Pure Klim — and their taste is milk
Add Klim, then pure water: you obtain milk once again
Take pure water
The favorite brand in every part of the world
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