talking it over Answers by Dr. Clyde M. Narramore
Dr. Clyde M. Narramore, graduate of Columbia Uni versity, New York City, is a psychologist and Consultant in Research and Guidance with one of the largest school systems in America.
chapter, “How To Get Along With Your Parents,” might be especially helpful in your work. Acting Like Children Q. What should a teacher do in an adult Sunday school class when two brothers, one an official in the church, constantly rib each other? One will ask questions—then the other will slam him. They interrupt no matter how good the teacher is. Three teachers have already re signed. A. First, this is a sign of emotional immaturity. They’ve never settled their childhood quarrels and in a sense they are still fighting even though they have grown up. Secondly, this is a mark of spir itual immaturity. If these men knew how they were harming the cause of Christ, they might reduce this constant bickering. I suggest that you start and close the class with prayer asking God to quiet the hearts of all, to give love from one member to another. Then during the class if this condition continues to get worse, you might ask the entire class to bow their heads and hearts in prayer. Then pray that God will speak to each member of the class so that the Holy Spirit will not be hindered. You can continue this procedure any time it is necessary. If there is someone in the church, perhaps the pastor, who can talk with each of these men, he should by all means do so in a humble, yet sincere manner. These men will undoubtedly be impressed with a face to face talk about the problem. They may not be aware of its se riousness.
What Teen-agers Like Q. My husband and I are both youth leaders in our church. As we contact parents we find that many of them are in conflict with their teen-age sons or daughters. I’m sure we could be of more help to these parents if we had your suggestions on the following question: What is an ideal home atmosphere for teen agers? A. One Sunday afternoon at the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles I discussed various prob lems that arise in Christian homes. Several parents raised questions similar to the one you ask. So I opened the discussion to a number of teen-agers in the audience. I asked the young people, “If you could have the kind of home you would like, what kind would it be?” These were their answers: 1. A spiritual home: A place where both Mom and Dad are saved and where both are living for the Lord; a home where we could all have daily devotions. 2. Understanding parents: Par ents to whom we would feel free to talk without being “bawled out,” and who would advise us without nagging. Undoubtedly these young people put their finger on the two most important aspects of an ideal home atmosphere. Young people do need Christian parents and they need parents who can quietly talk things over. As youth leaders you might like to read my recent book, Young Only Once. It is written for young people and those who work with them. It deals with the 12 basic in terests of all young people. One
Wanted: A Book Q. Could you refer me to a book (or books) introducing the subject of sex to children? There seem to be Christian books on this subject for teen-agers but I have not found one for children and surely this sub ject should at least be introduced to them before their teens. I have a boy 7 and feel he is learning about sex in a perverted way from the neighborhood chil dren but it is very hard to find out anything from him. I have tried to speak to him about this subject but most of the time he seems embar rassed. However, I do want him to learn about the facts of life in a Christian way. A. Your letter is timely inasmuch as Mrs. Narramore and I have writ ten a book on this very subject which is now available at Christian bookstores. The title is How to Tell Your Children About Sex. It is in tended for parents and teachers of children from infancy up to the age of 11. It deals with 26 areas of sex education. Some of the chapter headings are: “Guides in Sex Edu cation,” “Modesty in Young Chil dren,” “Family Dressing and Un dressing,” “Curiosity,” “Learning From Nature,” “The New Baby Brother or Sister,” “When Children Share Information,” “Experimenta tion,” “Sharing Beds and Bed rooms,” “Teasing,” “When Should Sex Education Begin?”, “The Bight Vocabulary,” “Children Who Do Not Ask,” “Facts About Masturba tion,” “Explaining the Father’s Role in Reproduction,” “The Pre-adoles cent and His Questions.” I trust that this book may be a blessing to Christian families everywhere.
The King's Business/September 1958
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