The child of a rationalistic temperament must be met with reasons; if a
thing is right there are always good reasons for it, and these may be
fully or partially explained to any child who is old enough to inquire
for them. In Karl’s case, both parents and teacher should have given him
the true reasons for the chivalrous regard for women which is symbolized
and expressed in the raising of hats. An intelligent boy of ten should
begin to rationalize the good manners which in earlier childhood are
pure habit.
Miss Forbes might pleasantly have answered Karl, that the ceremony to
which he objected is a conventionalized expression of the regard men
have for women. “You love your mother, don’t you? She does more for you
that you can repay, doesn’t she? Now, all other right-minded boys and
men feel the same way about their mothers. And so they all agreed, a
long time ago, that they would pay this mark of respect to women.”
This explanation would serve very well for the school, but it would be
wise to have a private talk with Karl and explain to him more fully the
considerations that underlie all chivalrous customs. Put upon a basis of
rationalized justice, the custom of hat-raising will win hearty support
from Karl, but as a mere matter of unexplained tradition it makes no
appeal whatever to him.