The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1867-03-02
The Punishment of Children.

Not long ago an editor in the northern part of
the State of New York told his about eleven
years old that he would whip him in the course of
few hours and locked him in an upper room until
he had leisure to do When he heard his father
coming he became so alarmed that he jumped out
of the window and broke his neck About year
ago a mother punished her daughter of eight years
by shutting her up in a dark closet The child be-
came frightened that convulsions were induced,
which resulted in death. In another case OF sim
liar character the result still more calamitous.
for the child became epiieptic, and remained for
some time afterward. The object of pal entail cor
rection should be the ultimate good of the child,
and TO make it effective
l. The character of the punishment should be
according to the temperament and disposition of
the child.
> The punishment should be in proportion to
the nature of the offence.
8. The punishment should be inflicted with the
utmost sefpossession, FIR if done in towering
passion it takes the character of revenge the child
sees it, and resists it with defiance stnbbornness
or with feeling of being the injured party.
1. Punishment should never he threatened, tor
one or two results both unfortunate, are certain
either the promise will not be kept and the child
lose confidence in parental assertions or the child
mind. dwelling upon what is expected. suffers
Heightened torture, Imagination always aggrava
ting the severity of the chastsement, and the child
gradually learns to Startle at every event which Is
likely to usher in correction, and the foundation Is
laid Tor that foaressuesS of the future which Is the
hane OF all human happiness : ana Id some cases
the severity of the expected suffering looms up 50
largely under the influence of dStempered ina
gnaiion as in the case of the editors. that child
suicide is considered the lesser evil. 1t is nothing
more nor less than a savage barbarity for any pa
to hold the mind of a child in state of terror
ism for single hour, let alone for whole days and
weeks
s. Never correct child by scolding. admoni-
ton or castigation in the presence of any person
whatever 1t is an attack on its Sei!esteem which
provokes resistance and passion. Let grown per-
sons recolect how ILL., they bear even deserved re-
proof in the presence of others.
C. Never punish child twice for one offence ii
is great Injustice. relic of barbarsin, and always
discourages or hardens. Make each settlement
final within ITSELF and do not forever be harpng on
what is past.
:. Punishment should not be effected in any case
without placing clearly before the child mind
the nature of the aggravaton, and that the sole
design of the chaStisement, reproof, is his pres
ent and future welfare.
s. In all cases where punishment is decided on,
it should be prompt or deferred, according 10 the
degree of aggravaton palpahle wrong. Il Is
almost always better to defer. but in such cases
threaten nothing, say nothing. do nothing which
indicates in the slightest degree that any thing Is
TO come. And when the time does come, do not
alarm the child with any show OF preparation, but
gradually and siectnay bring up the whole mat
ter, place it in its true, just and clear light and
act accordingly and always, as much as possible.
appeal TO the childs conscience, to It's sense OF
right, To lis magnanimity 10 its benevolenee to-
wards man aud its ingratitude toGod