Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-16
,rrrpRs on EDUCATION.

The theory lad Gown ia my '"s' .o''ei'
o,es,abliships an early q absolute authority
,,vsr Nv children, is of much greater moment
than. perhaps, you will Immediately appre-
bend. There is great diversity IN the tenn.
per and disposition Of children and no less
in the penetration, prudence and resolution
of parents. From all these circumstances.
difficulties arise, which increase very fast
as the work is delayed. Some children have
naturally very stiff and obstinate lemPers,
and some have certain pride, or If you
please, greatness cf mind, winch makes
them think i, a mean thing to yield. thus
d,sposi,ion is often greatly strengthened IN
- those of high birth, by the ideas OF their
own dignity and Importance lnstlled 'nto
,hem from their mothers milk. | have
known boy not six years ofage, who made
il d ooint of honour not to cry when he
was beat even by his parents. Other ch!-
dren have 50 strong passions, or so great
sensbility, that il they receive correction,
they will cry immoderaely, and either, be
or seem 20 be, af;'cted to such degree, as
10 endanger their health or life. Neither is
i, uncommon for the parents in such case
70 give up the point, aud if they do not ask
pardon, at least they give very genuine
, marks Of repentance and sorrow for what
they have done.
have said this is not uncommon. but |
may rather ask you whether you know any
parea,s at all, who have so much prudence
and firmness as not 10 be discouraged IN the
one case, or to relent on the oher At
the same time it must always be remember.
cd. that the correction IS wholly lost which
does not produce absolute submission. Fer.
haps may say it is more than lost, because
. il will irri;a,e instead Of r'forming them,
and will instruct or perfect them n The art
of overcoming their parents, which they will
moi fail 10 manifest on future opportunity.
1t is surnrisng to think how early children
will discover the Wehk side Of their parents,
and what ingenuity they will show in OBJ.
tanning their favour or avoiding their dis
pleasure. think have observed child
in treaty or expostulalion with a parent, dis
cover more consummate policy at seven
years of age, than the parent himself, even
when attempting 10 cajolc him with aItfui
evasions and specious promises. On ali
these accounts, il must be vast advantage
that habit OF submission should be brought
on so early, that even memory ls' lfsi,aIl not
be able to reach back toi its beginning. Un
less this is done, there are many cases, in
which, after the best management, the au.
tlorty will be imperfect and some in
which any thing that deserves that name
viii be impossible. There are some lam~
lies not contemplate either in station or
character, in which the parents are literally
and properly obedien, to their children are
forced to do things against their will. and
chidden If they discover the least backward.
ness te comply. Ifyou know none such, I
am sure do.
Let us now proceed to the best means of
preserving authority, and the way in which
i, ought 10 be- daily exercised. will trace
this % its very source. Whatever authority
YOU exercise over either children or ser,
wants, or as magistrate over other ciliz"ns,
il ought 10 be dictated by conscience, and
directed by sense Of duty. Passion or re.
sentiment ought to have as li},le place as pos.
slble or rather, to speak properly, though
few can boast Of having arrived at full per-
fection, it ought TO have no place at all. Re-
proof or correction given in race, IS al
WAYS considered by him to whom 1t IS ad-
minis,ered, as the effec, of weakness in you,
and therefore the de merit of the offence will
: be ether wholly denied or soon forgotten.
have heard some parents often say, that
they cannot correct their Chlldren unless
they are angry to whom | have usually
answered, then you ought not 10 correct
them at all. Every one would be sensible,
that for magistrate to discover an in.em-
pera,e rage in pronouncing sentence against
a criminal, would be highly indecent. Ought
not parents 10 punish their children IN the
same dispassiona,e manner ? Ought they
not to be at eas, equally concerned TO dis
charge their duty in the best manner, in
one case as in the other?
He who would perserve his authority over
his children, should be particularly waIchfui
of his own conducr. You may as well pre-
tend to force people 10 love what is not am.
iuble, as to reverence what is not respecta.
BILE. A decency ofconduc', therefore, and
dignity of department, is highly servlceabls
for lbe purpose we have now in view. Lest
this however, should be mistaken, | must
put in caution, that do not mean 10 re.
commend keeping children at too great a
distance by uniform Stcrnness aud severity
ofcarriage. This, | think, is not necessary,
even when they are young and it may, to
children Of some tempers, be very hurtlul
when they are old. By and by, you shall
receive from me quite contrary direction.
But By dignity Of carriage, mean parents