Article May 6, 1944 Issue

What Causes Wars?

[Of Special Interest to Children]

CONSTANCE M. FRANCIS

Shortly after the outbreak of the present World War, a child in a small country school asked. "What causes wars?"

For a moment her teacher was at a loss for a suitable answer, so instead of answering, she asked, "What causes quarrels at school?" It was now the children's turn to be at a loss for an answer, since at this time it seemed impossible for them to play together harmoniously. So it was suggested that they watch for the causes of their disagreements during the following week and write down their observations. The class was then led to see that quarrels could be between persons, families, states, or nations, and that big quarrels were called wars.

Much interest was shown, and many and varied were their observations on the causes of their quarrels, domination—a desire to have their own way all the time— selfishness, temper, unfair play, and laziness, expressed in unwillingness to do a fair share of the work, being the most common.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The Mother Church Wartime Fund