WAS HE BAD?
(The
Record of
a
Small
Boy)
By Professor Robert
Hill, Department of Education, University of State of Albany, N.Y.
State
New
York,
It is
a year now and more since the following record was made three and a half year old boy. Vigorous, healthy and happy, by he found his childish world too tame and straightway entered upon our
brief, though absorbing career of exploration and conquest. His outbreak came during a Friday afternoon, while his mother was away and he was in the care of household help. His record during those two or three fleeting hours was as follows: Narcissus bulbs pulled from their bowl and scattered about the a
floor. Bottle of face cream emptied on the floor. Talcum powder scattered about the house. Pages torn from his brother's book. Wall kicked and marred. Kitchen floor daubed with paint.
Postage stamps taken from desk and torn. Household accounts (box of slips) tampered with. His mother rescued him from further depredations. He was scolded and sent to his room until supper time. He was not disturbed particularly and the next morning proceeded on his way with the following interesting results: Oriental rug cut with shears in three
gashes.
Part of
fringe
cut off.
Door rug cut in two slashes and one piece cut out jabbed in leather chair seat. More pages torn from his brother's book.
entirely.
Hole
Several pages from his father's books torn out.
Typewriter ribbon pulled out. One book badly cut with scissors. Calling cards on receiving tray cut up. Tobacco from tobacco jar scattered on table and Dental cream squeezed down wash-bowl. Talcum powder distributed about floor and on niture. (271)
floor. bed-room fur-
272
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC.
Pussy-willows
taken from
jar
and hidden under
dining-room
buffet.
By this time, his brother, three years wonder and his mother in consternation.
older,
was
in
hysterics
of
The rapid passage from event to event was almost too much to follow. In no case was he visually detected in crime and discovery was accidental. He was coralled at last in his room for the remainder of the day and to give his parents some relief. He remained in solitary confinement with-
out, however, becoming resentful or apparently much concerned. His hands were tied, also, to prevent even under arrest any further also because he was somewhat proud of what he had done and showed his mother how he could cut with hands tied in front. At the usual hour he went to bed. He was apparently normal again. But the next morning it began again, this time before the family
depredations;
He arose quietly and alone explored the possiwas even awake. bilities of the house to his heart's content. These were the results: One tapestry table-cover cut and slashed. One Battenburg table-piece cut and ruined. account box (with slips) dumped into waste-basket. Ink bottle emptied on floor. (Fortunately not on rugs.) Talcum powder scattered on the floor.
Family
portfolio slashed and straps cut off. Cleaning powder scattered in kitchen and bath-room. By this time the family was aroused and the boy's career cut short. He was cheerful, uncommunicative and submitted readily to confinement and isolation in his room with hands tied behind him, where, except at meal time, he remained alone all day. He cried a little, but for the most part he seriously contemplated the view from the window. Apparently he was oblivious of damage done, of any badness, and he had no regrets. The next day he was released, but showed no inclination to proceed further. His line had run out. He had plumbed to the depths of experience. The storm was over. Aside from slapping and tying his hands, solitary confinement, isolation and scolding, he received no further punishment. When shown the results of his work later, he said he was sorry, but he did On the contrary, he betrayed not seem overwhelmed with remorse. Leather
little interest. the burning question was: What is this? The boy He had been charbefore shown any such tendencies. acterized mostly by winsomeness and mildness tempered by activity and more or less individualism natural to a child of his age.
Naturally
had
never
WAS
[HE
BAD?
273
Within a few days his case was preesnted to several specialists, not for professional diagnosis and treatment necessarily, but for
information. We were curious, also, to know whether the treatadministered was suitable or adequate.
ment
The
physician characterized the outbreak as brain-storm and super-nervous activity due, largely, to too much confinement within doors. He recommended more out-door exercise. The psychologist ascribed the trouble to physical conditions. "Give him a good physic," he said. The sociologist found more significance in the story. Sifting out
details and considering surrounding conditions, his diagnosis
somewhat
was
follows: The child was on as
It was a tour of conquest and self-discovery. exhibit of the primitive desire to feel out the environment coupled with a latent desire to win recognition and even approbation. an
This analysis appeared to be more nearly correct. The boy was not bad in the adult sense. Nor did he seem to be in poor health. A year has passed, during which there have been no further
demonstrations
of
Occasionally the boy, who is is reminded of his devastating work of a year ago. He remembers, vaguely and in part at least, but without much interest. In talking about it some time since, he
now
in
sought
similar nature.
a
kindergarten,
encounters
or
to prove that his older
brother, not himself, was the culprit. incidental, though important series of events in the development of character whose significance may be more evident in later years. Aside from the family tradition, these incidents of a childish career are to be buried in personal history. It is only when other events occur that one wonders if perchance Doubtless this
there may be
a
was an
peep into the future.
Recently the boy was truly "naughty." He was therefore roundly reprimanded by his father, who doubtless exhibited some "temper." He accepted the verbal chastisement, perhaps accentuated by certain other "gestures" with interest. He waited until the storm was over, whereupon he blandly walked away, singing right lustily, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Doubtless he is right, for all in the family do.
(The
Record of
a
Small
Boy)
By Professor Robert
Hill, Department of Education, University of State of Albany, N.Y.
State
New
York,
It is
a year now and more since the following record was made three and a half year old boy. Vigorous, healthy and happy, by he found his childish world too tame and straightway entered upon our
brief, though absorbing career of exploration and conquest. His outbreak came during a Friday afternoon, while his mother was away and he was in the care of household help. His record during those two or three fleeting hours was as follows: Narcissus bulbs pulled from their bowl and scattered about the a
floor. Bottle of face cream emptied on the floor. Talcum powder scattered about the house. Pages torn from his brother's book. Wall kicked and marred. Kitchen floor daubed with paint.
Postage stamps taken from desk and torn. Household accounts (box of slips) tampered with. His mother rescued him from further depredations. He was scolded and sent to his room until supper time. He was not disturbed particularly and the next morning proceeded on his way with the following interesting results: Oriental rug cut with shears in three
gashes.
Part of
fringe
cut off.
Door rug cut in two slashes and one piece cut out jabbed in leather chair seat. More pages torn from his brother's book.
entirely.
Hole
Several pages from his father's books torn out.
Typewriter ribbon pulled out. One book badly cut with scissors. Calling cards on receiving tray cut up. Tobacco from tobacco jar scattered on table and Dental cream squeezed down wash-bowl. Talcum powder distributed about floor and on niture. (271)
floor. bed-room fur-
272
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CLINIC.
Pussy-willows
taken from
jar
and hidden under
dining-room
buffet.
By this time, his brother, three years wonder and his mother in consternation.
older,
was
in
hysterics
of
The rapid passage from event to event was almost too much to follow. In no case was he visually detected in crime and discovery was accidental. He was coralled at last in his room for the remainder of the day and to give his parents some relief. He remained in solitary confinement with-
out, however, becoming resentful or apparently much concerned. His hands were tied, also, to prevent even under arrest any further also because he was somewhat proud of what he had done and showed his mother how he could cut with hands tied in front. At the usual hour he went to bed. He was apparently normal again. But the next morning it began again, this time before the family
depredations;
He arose quietly and alone explored the possiwas even awake. bilities of the house to his heart's content. These were the results: One tapestry table-cover cut and slashed. One Battenburg table-piece cut and ruined. account box (with slips) dumped into waste-basket. Ink bottle emptied on floor. (Fortunately not on rugs.) Talcum powder scattered on the floor.
Family
portfolio slashed and straps cut off. Cleaning powder scattered in kitchen and bath-room. By this time the family was aroused and the boy's career cut short. He was cheerful, uncommunicative and submitted readily to confinement and isolation in his room with hands tied behind him, where, except at meal time, he remained alone all day. He cried a little, but for the most part he seriously contemplated the view from the window. Apparently he was oblivious of damage done, of any badness, and he had no regrets. The next day he was released, but showed no inclination to proceed further. His line had run out. He had plumbed to the depths of experience. The storm was over. Aside from slapping and tying his hands, solitary confinement, isolation and scolding, he received no further punishment. When shown the results of his work later, he said he was sorry, but he did On the contrary, he betrayed not seem overwhelmed with remorse. Leather
little interest. the burning question was: What is this? The boy He had been charbefore shown any such tendencies. acterized mostly by winsomeness and mildness tempered by activity and more or less individualism natural to a child of his age.
Naturally
had
never
WAS
[HE
BAD?
273
Within a few days his case was preesnted to several specialists, not for professional diagnosis and treatment necessarily, but for
information. We were curious, also, to know whether the treatadministered was suitable or adequate.
ment
The
physician characterized the outbreak as brain-storm and super-nervous activity due, largely, to too much confinement within doors. He recommended more out-door exercise. The psychologist ascribed the trouble to physical conditions. "Give him a good physic," he said. The sociologist found more significance in the story. Sifting out
details and considering surrounding conditions, his diagnosis
somewhat
was
follows: The child was on as
It was a tour of conquest and self-discovery. exhibit of the primitive desire to feel out the environment coupled with a latent desire to win recognition and even approbation. an
This analysis appeared to be more nearly correct. The boy was not bad in the adult sense. Nor did he seem to be in poor health. A year has passed, during which there have been no further
demonstrations
of
Occasionally the boy, who is is reminded of his devastating work of a year ago. He remembers, vaguely and in part at least, but without much interest. In talking about it some time since, he
now
in
sought
similar nature.
a
kindergarten,
encounters
or
to prove that his older
brother, not himself, was the culprit. incidental, though important series of events in the development of character whose significance may be more evident in later years. Aside from the family tradition, these incidents of a childish career are to be buried in personal history. It is only when other events occur that one wonders if perchance Doubtless this
there may be
a
was an
peep into the future.
Recently the boy was truly "naughty." He was therefore roundly reprimanded by his father, who doubtless exhibited some "temper." He accepted the verbal chastisement, perhaps accentuated by certain other "gestures" with interest. He waited until the storm was over, whereupon he blandly walked away, singing right lustily, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Doubtless he is right, for all in the family do.
