The nursery training for children is merely repressive. They are told
not to be naughty, not to be greedy, not to break their toys, not to be
noisy. Whereas a teaching more calculated to develop their intelligence
would substitute some interesting occupation to counteract their
naughtiness; such as mending a toy they have broken, which would
delight them more than any new toy; and having seen the trouble it took
to mend it, and the time it took to dry it, they would learn
carefulness. If they wish to shout at inconvenient times and places,
teach them to sing a chorus, and if the noise is too great, let them
sing one at a time. If they are greedy, which often means hungry, for
children need frequent feeding, give them a piece of bread.
But although tender kindness is the best of nurture, on no account let
it degenerate into weak indulgence. Compel instant obedience to the
slightest word, the minutest direction, enforcing habits of attention
and discipline. Never let children be obtrusive or feel that they are a
power in the house; and require of them the utmost respect to elders.
The good example of parents is the safeguard of the children. If they
show reverence to all that is lovely, children will do so too. Above
all, parents should never break a promise, nor ever deceive their
children, even in play, or children will not honour their word.
I do not like to see mothers or nurses take away from a child something
they do not wish it to have, and hide it, and pretend not to know where
it is gone; yet this is a very favourite form of play, and deemed quite
innocent. Surely it were better kindly, but firmly and openly, to
remove the object and turn the attention from the loss.
I hope these few remarks will be found useful. I have tried to keep
them brief, but in writing on so important a topic as that of
education, it is difficult to bear in mind the clever old French
saying, "Woe to him who says all that can be said."
SUNDAY.
Children's Sundays made wearisome--Sunday precious to workers--Moral
workers--Moral vices--Our gifts--Misuse of them--Necessary work on
Sunday--Diminished by management--Sunday prevents us living too
fast--The rest must be earned--Sunday repairs the human machine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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