The correction of astigmatism, myopia, and other defects of eyesight (alarmingly prevalent among children) by supplying him with proper eyeglasses uniformly results in better school grades as well as marked improvement in cheerfulness. The evil effects of impaired hearing, decayed teeth, and malnutrition on intellectual progress are also noticeable. The backward, indolent boy should always have the advice and assistance of the physician, the oculist, and the dentist before he receives blame for either mental deficiency or laziness. The effects of heredity and prenatal influence in determining the character of the child have been, in the opinion of many investigators, greatly overestimated by the popular mind. The causative influence of training (and environment which is a part of training) is immeasurably more potent in the upbuilding of strong moral qualities than heredity. The records of the Children’s Aid Society of New York, covering more than 38,000 children, many of whom are the offspring of drunken and criminal fathers and dissolute mothers, show beyond cavil that a good home with love and moral training will usually submerge hereditary tendencies be they ever so vicious. A very large proportion of these children of delinquent parents, stamped (according to the theory of heredity) with rotten physiques and rottener characters, have, through good training and good environment, developed into law-abiding and useful citizens. Among them may be mentioned two governors of states, two congressmen, four judges, one justice of the Supreme Court, nine members of state legislatures, thirty-five lawyers, eighty-six teachers, nineteen physicians, twenty-four ministers, sixteen journalists, twenty-nine bankers, and countless farmers, mechanics, clerks and business men. The theory of the “inherent depravity” of the boy, whether attributed to heredity or to an act of God, is a rapidly fading myth. The boy is inherently good--not bad. First know your son and love him; then you will be able to help him. When you come to know the boy--even the adolescent--he is an exceedingly lovable creature; and his inherent potentialities for future excellence should be our inspiration for such assistance as will build them into perfect manhood. Do not deceive yourself with the belief that your Johnny is different from other boys and that therefore the principles of boy-psychology have no application to him and to his problems. Diversities of temperament and character differentiate individuals, but all boys possess a common nature whose evolution progresses according to fixed laws. Idiosyncrasies and abnormalities of character are of slow growth. They do not erupt suddenly like the measles. It must be obvious, on consideration, that no simple panacea can be found for the speedy cure of such complex and diverse diseases of character. Good training and wholesome environment supplied throughout boyhood will make good, wholesome character in manhood.