Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-07-02
From the Journal of Health,
RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

What, exclaims Rousseau, are we TO
think at that barbarous education which
sacrifices tine present to an uncertain iu-
ture, which loads child with chains of
all kinds; and begins by rendering him
miserable, In order to prepare him Tor Que
knows not what pretended happiness,
which 1t IS presunlIe lie viii never enjoy.
The age "i gaiety Is passed in the mlds.
OF tears, cnastiSemeDtS, threats, and BON
dage. The author OF Emilius here de-
nounces the coeJtion practised on chill.
dren, 10y which, III their tender years, they
are compelled to Sit at a table or desk IN
schooi'roou', IN place OF being allow ed the
Tree use OF their limbs, and The Enjoyment
oil their little gambols. Let them, he saws.
leap, run, and cry when they desire. All
their movements are SD many wants of
constitution, which thus seeks to STRENGTH
EN- itself. We must, however. DISTINGUISH
clearly the true natural want, from mere
whim. What is granted to /. child. must
De coniormaole to its wants, not its de-
!nands. Ii you wish to render child ,tu-
~ miserable, you have but to accus,om
iim 10 obtain every thing he wishes. since
us des'res are constantly increasing with
the very facility OF gratifying them. YOU
VIII be compelled, from sheer inability f.
naiiy TO refuse; and this very refusal tn
~oich he Is unaccustomed, will Cause him
more PAIN than the privation even of VIVA,
he desired. At first he will wan, v,n-
cane theh your watch. then the bird which
ne sees ny past the window, then the star
SHINING above him he will desire tn have
all that he sees. Unless YOU bs de;,v
now Can you satisfy him. With this mn
Outstanding Of what we wish 10 he nnda-
stood by the rights of chiIdren-as onnos-
cd TO their seclusion from the open air
a"o iorced attention to books, the subjects
'rea'eu IN which are beyond their canaci-
Iy-we give insertion to the following an
propriate passage from a wel-writ,.n tale,
q" one oil The late British magazines The
person who speaks is supposed IN be an
i'ai'an oil the sixteenth Century
II was surely the intention of p,,v;
dence, that the faculties OF early Ef. sbonId
not be strained by iabors hostile On ,ha
hea'th'ui growth Of mind and BODY. Al. ii
that the heart, the senses, and the pr;nc;.
pies, should alone be tutored in the 6rs,
ten years life. And yet how egreoionsIv
has the folly OF the creature perverted m.
benevolent purposes of the Creator WI
'housh''ess, heartless Indifference he com.
'n'ts his tender offspring to the c,nsb;na
tyranny OF Pedants aud task-masters WIZ
rack and Supply the imperfect brain hy
vain attempts to convey dead Iangn,o.,
through dead medium, and iua,c, , :.
lhelr helpless pupils the occult mysteries
4" grammar. which is The philosophy al
language, and intelligibIe only to refined
faculties. Ask the youth who has t,iIed
!" prostia''on OF spirit, through the ia, less
years oil school existence, ia the nrs,,,,.
rory semlnaries OF ltaly-bid him IooL
PACK upon his tedious pilgrimage. and
weigh the scanty knowIed ge he has won
, against the abundant miseries he bas Or,
: dared from the harsh disciDliDe If MOI,
: k'sh tutors, and the selfish bru,al,,v =,
, senior class-tellows. His pride NAV nrou ~
t h'm 10 deny-but in honesty and fairness
, ne must ndmit-that the established svs
TEN "i education is radically vicious: Ina
MS a"aihments are meagre and supe, f
c'ai that h's knowledge of the world !,
s,ihshness and cunning and thai, To r;s.
above the herd of slaves and dnnces h.
a must give himself second widely differ
ehl education ; more liberal, comprehen
5 sive, and practical.
IL was my happier fate 10 enjoy, unit
al inc age OF ten, unbounded liber,v
f associated with boys OF INV own are. 90
Letting, for frequent intercourse ,b,s.
mos. distinguished by strength Of body, re-
source Oh mind, and lofty and determin
Q ca spirit; disdained to be outdone If
'ea,s OF bodily activity, and persevere,
WIN infiexible ardour, until sur passed al
nv competitions in running, wrestling
swimming, and in every species Of ;,ve
Dile and daring exploit" ''