Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-09
J several Of the following branches Of this

The next thing shall mention as neces.
sary, in order to the education of children,
is to establish as soon as possible, an entire
and absolute authority over them. This is
part of the subject which requires to be
treated with great judgment and dellcacy.
I wish may be able to do so. Opinions,
like modes and fashions, change continually
upon every point neither is it easy to keep
the just middle, without verging to one or
the other of the extremes. On this, in par
,icular, we have gone in this nation in gen.
eral, from one extreme to the very utmost
limits Of The other. 10 the former age,
both public and private, learned and rel!g'
ious education was carried on BY mere dint
Of authority. This, TO be sure, was say.
age and barbarous method, and was in many
instances terrible and digusting to the youth.
Now, on the other hand, not only severity,
but authority, is often decried persuasion,
and every soft and gentle method, is recon-.
mended in such terms, as plainly lead to
relaxation. hope you will be convinced,
that the middle way is best, when you find
it is recommended by the Spirit Of God in
his word, Prov. xiii. "a. xix. 1s. xxi. Is.
You will also find o caution against excess
in this matter, Col. ii. ~.
| Ihave said, that you should estaoi'sn as
soon as possible, an entire and absolute au'
thorlty." would have It early, that it may
be absolute and absolute, that it may not
be severe. Ifpareuts are too long in be:
ginning to exert their authority, they will
find The task very difficult. Children, hab'.
tua.ed TO indulgence for few Of their first
years, are exceedingly impatient Of restraint,
and # they happen to be of stiff or obstinate
tempers, can hardly be brought TO an entire,
a, least to quiet and placid submission;
whereas, If they are taken iu time. there is
hardly any temper but what may be made
to yield, and by early habit the subjeetion
becomes quite easy to themselves.
The authority ought also to be absolute
that it NAV not be severe. The more com.
plete and uniform a parents authority is,
1.-The offences will be more rare, punish.
ment will be less needed and the more gen.
tie kind of correction will be abundantly
sufficient. We see every where about US
examples ofthis. A parent that has once
obtained, and knows how to preserve au.
thority. will do more by look of displea'
sure, than another by the most passionate
words and even blows. 1t holds universally
in families and schools, even the greater
bodies of men, the army and navy that
those who keep the strictest discipline, gives
the fewest strokes. ! have frequently re-
marked that parents. even Of the softest
tempers, and who are famed fer the greatest,
indulgence to their children ; do, notwilh.
standing, correct them more frequently, and
even more severely, though to very little
purpose, than those who keep up their au.
thority. The reason Is plain. Children,
by foolish indulgence, become often 80 fro.
ward and petulent in their tempers, that they
provoke their easy parents past all endur.
ance that they are obliged, If not to strike,
at least to scold them, in manner as little
to their own credit, as their children's profit.
There is no, a more disgusting sight
than the impotent rage ola parent who has
no authority. Among the lower ranks of
people, who are under no restraint from de.
cency, you may sometimes see father or
mother running out into the street after a
child who is fled from them, with looks Of
fury and words Of execration and they are
often stupid enough to imagine that neigh.
bours or passengers will approve them in
this conduct, though in fact it fills every be:
holder with horror. There is degree Of
the same fault 10 be seen inpersons OF better
rank, though expressing itself somewhat
differently. Ill words and alterations will
often fall out between parents and children
before company : a sure sign that there is
defect of government at home, or in prl.
vate. The parent stung with shame al the
misbehaviour or indiscretion of the child,
desires 10 persuade che observers that it is
no, his fault, and thereby efectually con.
vinces every person Of reflection that it 's'
would therefore recommend to every
parent, to begin the establishment Of autho.
rity much more early than is commonly
supposed to be possible: that is to say,
from about the age ofeight or nine months.
You will perhaps smile at this but | do as
sure you from experience, that by setting
about it with prudence, deliberatiou, andat.
,ention, it may bein manner completed by
the age oftwelve or fourteen months. Do
not ina asine, | mean 10 bid you use the rid
a, that age on the contrary, mean 10 pre-.
ven. the use of il, in great measure, and to
point out way by which children Of sweet
and easy tempers, may be brought 10 such
babit Of compliance, as never to need cor.
rection at all {; and whatever their temper !
may be, so much less Of this is sufficient, |
than upon any other supposi,ion. This is
one of my favourite schemes let me try to |
explain and recommend it.
Habits in general may be very early
formed in children. An association Of