, 1867-02-08
The Punishment Of children.

Not long ago an editor in the northern part Of
the State Of New York told bis son, about eleV,
en- years old, that be would whip him in the
course of few hours, aud locked him in the up
per room until be had leisure to do SO. When
he heard his father coming he became so alarmed
that he jumped out Of the window and broke bis
neck. About year ago a mother punished her
little daughter, of eight years, by shutting her
up in a dark closet; the child became so fright.
ened that convulsions were induced, which re-
suited ia death. In another case of similar
character, the result was still more calamitous,
for the child became epileptic, and so remained
for sometime afterward. The object sf parental
correction should be the ultimate good Of the
child and to make it effective:
l. The character Of the punishment should be
according to the disposition and temperament Of
the child.
2. The punishment should be in proportion to
the nature of the offence.
3. The punishment should be Inflicted with the
utmost self possession, for if done in a towering
passion it takes the character of revenge, the
child sees it, and resists it with defiance, stub
bOrness, or with the feeling of being the Injured
party.
4. Punishment should never be threatened for
one or two results, both, unfortunate are cer>
tain, either the promise will not DO kept and the
child lose confidence in the parental assertions,
or the chiId's mind, dwelling upon what. ia ~.
r--.yI g-avI > Ions Gururu i0StiIre Ina agination
always aggravsting the severity of the chastise>
ment, and the child learns to startle at every
event which is likely to usher in correction, and
the foundation is laid for that fearIcssness of the
future which is the bane of human happiness;
and in some cases the severity of the expected
suffering looms up so largely under the influence
of distempered imagination, 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 parent to hold the mind
of child in the state of terrorism for single
hour, let alone for days and weeks.
5. Never correct child by scOldng, admoui-
ton or castigatiOn in the presence of any person
whatever. 1t is an attack on sell. esteem, which
provokes resistance and passion. Let grown
persons recolect how i'll they bear even deserved
reproof in the presence of others.
6. Never punish a child twice for one offence;
it is a great Injustice, a relic OF barbarsm, and
always discourages or hardens. Make each set
Element 6na in ITSELF and don't be forever har.
ping on what is past.
Z. Punishment should not be effected, in any
case, without placing clearly before the chid's
mind the nature Of the aggravation, aud that the
sole design of the chsstsement, or reproof, is
bis present and future welfare.
8. In all cases, where punishment is decided
upon, it should be prompt or deferred, accor'
ding to the aPgravation or palpable wrong. 1t
is almost always better to defer; but in such cases
threaten nothing, say nothing, do nothing which
indicates in the slightest degree that anything
is to come And when the time does come, do
not alarm the child with any show of prepara-
ration, but gradually and effcctually bring up
the whole matter, place it in it's true, just, and
clear light, and act accordingly; and always as
much as possible appeal to the child's conscience,
to its sense of right, to its magRanimity, to its
benevolence towards man and its gratitude to-
wards God.-HalPs Journal of Healh.