Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-03-22
Address TO the Parents and The Public oil
$500 s.gE* esgH ViYgissiF sfls


The undersigned haze been appointed by
the {" Educational Association Of Virginia"
committee to address you on their behalf,
q urging YOU to more hearty cooperation
with teachers in matters of instruction, dis
cipline, &c"
The benefits which would be secured TO
education and the aid which would be afford !.
ed teachers by such CO operation would be
verv great !; as all who have any experience
on the Subject must he aware Of the obstacles
- -~ill a4l,r4..As
from The want Of proper family management.
| IF, therefore. they can be removed, much
good will be attained Since lie ttacher is
properly TO be re gar ed as the parent'sagcnt,
10 assist III the training Of his children, il APP
pears obvious tlaG parents may he best IN
duced to this important concurrence by poiut-
ing chem 10 the Fundamental principles to be
observed in the eaueation Of youth. siae
F. In its broad, comprehensive sense. educa-
ton EN- b.accs the physical, moral, and INTEL
lectn;.i instruction of child, from infancy to
manhood Any system is. inlperfeet Which
does not combine them all, and that-is best
which, while. il thoroughly develops them,
abuses the coarse, animal affections Of human
nature, and exalts the higher faculties and
feelings. A child has everything 10 learn,
and is more readily taught BY having before
il good examples to initiate, than by simple
precepts, He Should, therefore, as far as
circumstances; VIII permit, lie encouraged TO
associate with bis parents for his heart must
be affected, Ills feelings moved, as we'll as his
mind expanded. He may lie taught that it
is criminal to Steal and Sinful to lie. and yet
be Unable 70 apply this knoWldgeto the gov
,eslnmen{ Of himself; anti it Wilt therefore be
Of 40 value to him unless the principle is
confirmed into a habit. -a stH 'ts8 ..53
y Obedience is. the first requisite in family
training. It should be made sincere aud
perfect, and to proceed as much from afec- 1
ton as a conviction Of its necessity To ac-
complish his, great. prudence and The exer-g
else Of much patience are necessary. By
frmncss mixed with Kindness the child will
learn, by repeated experience, that he is not
to follow bis first impulse, and that SELF con-
troll, which even an infant can understand,
is necessary to his comfort. Neither VIC
lcnce nor harshness should ever be used; and
the parcut must bear constantly in mind that
to govern his child he must show him that
he can control himself r. 6tse Of the most
common errors liz the management Of chill
dren is rregularity Of behavor towards them.
They are as skilliul, as pertinacious in their
attempts to crafty their self-will at one time
trying to evade authority, at another to OPP
pose it. ( If they once succeed, they are en-
couraged to persevere, and it's necessary for
the parent to meet the first attempt with
firmncss, and not permit himself to be baffled
by evasion or resistance. Although child
may not yield to threats, and may defy pun
ishment, he cannot resist patient kindness
and gentle admonition.
The love Of truth is equal in Importance
to habitaal obedience. Every encourage
ment, even to the pardoning Of offences, i
should be given to it's cultivation The first
impulse of the mind in children is always to
speak the. truth rather; than falsehood, unless
some evil motive arise to sway them to I'M
truth. They, should be accustomed to hear
the truth always spoken. i. Confession of err
ror, with desestation Of falsehood, dishon-
esty, and equiyocatien should be sedulously4
inculcated "A strict adherence to promises
made to them is Of the. utmost importance, as
well as. the removal Of all temptation to mis-
conduct ------------.---. ------- +
! The infueneesso Christianity form the es-
sential clement Of moral character, as its |
principles are thegonly sufficient basis Of viz
tue or happiness. Hence the parents most
sacred duty to- his child is toimpress the SEN
timents Of aouaholy religion early upon his
mind by personal explanation andsystematicI
instruction. AS the intellect expands, its .
sacred truths viii be compre hended and felt,
and it's motives and principles be strength
ened and confirmed by practice and habit I
8 An essential Ipartof the educationof youth
is to teach them to serve themselves, and to