RURAL LEADERSHIP 



exhibit few if any evidences of strength of character, but 

 in the end grow strong and finally mature, under wise super- 

 vision, into men of sturdiness and power. There are infinite 

 gradations between these two classes. The pleasure that 

 comes from arriving at an exact understanding of each case, 

 and from opening the way to the highest achievement possible 

 in each case, is a pleasure that gives infinite zest in spite of 

 the many disappointments inevitable in dealing with youth. 

 Many years ago a class of young people chose as their presi- 

 dent one of their number who was sociable, agreeable, regular 

 in attendance, faithful in the performance of stereotyped 

 duties, but who possessed no initiative, had a pliant nature, 

 and could not command the respect of a young man or 

 woman with a strong character. The result was, he was a 

 failure as a class president, which office his smile, handclasp 

 and equable disposition had won him. 



A final essential of leadership is fairness. Anyone who 

 has had much experience with children or young people 

 realizes that they are gifted with intuitive keenness in passing 

 judgment on the treatment they receive at the hands of elders. 

 A teacher, for example, who shows partiality quickly impairs 

 his usefulness and practically destroys his influence over his 

 pupils. A little group of children or young people is filled 

 with the same democratic spirit that pervades the whole 

 national life, and their slogan is the square deal. So anyone 

 who aspires to be a leader of youth must make up his mind 

 that he will always be just; that, in fact, he will be so just 

 as to treat with equal consideration the boy or girl for whom 

 he cannot but have an antipathy and the boy or girl to whom 

 he is naturally drawn. 



In listening to a group of young people discussing their 

 teachers one often hears remarks ^such as these : " Mr. So 

 and So certainly does give a fellow a square deal ; " " What 

 makes me like Miss So and So is, she plays no favorites ; " 

 and the like. As a grown-up person goes back in memory to 

 the teachers of his tender years, he loves most to dwell on 

 the experiences under teachers that showed absolute fairness 



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