The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-12
Ritllmond 1ispatrh.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IL, 1867.
Address 10 the Parents and the Pub.
lie OF Virginia.

Address 10 the Parents and the Pub
lie OF Virginia.
The undersigned have been appointe
by the Educational Association Of Vff
ginia" committee to address you o
their behalf, "urging you to more heart
cooperation with teachers in matters Q
instruction, discipline" sc.
The benefits which would be secured I
education and the aid which would b
afforded teachers by such cooperation
would be very great; as all who have an.
experience on the subject must be awar
of the obstacles at the very threshold O
education arising from the want of prope
family management. If, therefore, the.
can be removed, much good will be attain
ed. Since the teacher is properly to b.
regarded as the parents agent, to assist il
the training of his children, 1t appears OBJ
vious that parents may be best induced t
this important concurrence by pointing
them to the fundamental principles to b.
observed in the education Of youth.
IN It's broad, comprehensive sense, edu
cation embraces the physical, moral, ant
intellectual instruction Of child, from in
fancy to manhood. Any system is imper
| feet which does not combine them oil, ant
tLat is best which, while it thoroughly de
velopes them, aliases the coarse, animal af
| fections of human nature, and exalts The
higher faculties and feelings. A child ha!
everything to learn, and is more readily
taught by having before it good examples
to initiate, than by simple precepts. Ht
should, therefore, as far as circumstance!
will permit, be encouraged to associate
with his parents for his heart must be af
fected >. his feelings moved, 2s well as hi
mind expanded. He may bc taught that i
is criminal to steal, and sinful to lie, ant
yet be unable to apply this knowledge t.
the government Of himself; and it viii
therefore be Of no value to him unless the
principle is confirmed into habit.
Obedience is the first requisite in family
training. 1t should be made sincere anc
perfect, and to proceed as much from af
lection as a conviction of its necessity. Tt
accomplish this, great prudence and the
exercise Of much patience are necessary
BY frmness mixed with kindness the child
will learn, by repeated experience, that he
is not to follow his first impulse, and that
selfcontrol, which even an infant can un.
derstand, is necessary to his comfort
Neither violence nor harshness should ever
be used and the pareut must bear con.
stantly in mind that to govern his child he
must show him that he can control him.
self. One Of the most common errors in
the management of children is irregularity
of behavior towards them. They are as
skilful, as pertinacious in their attempts
to crafty their self-will; at one time try
ing to evade authority, at another to op-
pose it. If they once succeed, they are
encouraged to persevere, and it is neces-
sary for the parent to meet the first at
tempt with frmness, and not permit him.
self to be baffled either by evasion or re-
sistance. Although a child may not yield
to threats, and may defy punishment, he
cannot resist patient kindness and gentle
admonition.
The love of truth is equal in Importance
to habitual obedience. Every encourage
ment, even to the pardoning of offences,
should be given to its cultivation. The
first impulse of the mind in children is
always to speak the truth rather than false
hood. unless some evil motive arise to
sway them to untruth. They should be
accustomed to hear the truth always
spoken. Confession of error, with a de-
testation of falsehood, dishonesty, and
eouivocation should be sedulously incul-
Gated. A strict adherence to promises
made to them is of the utmost Importance,
as well as the removal Of all temptation to
misconduct.
The influences of Christianity form the
essential element Of moral character, as
its principles are the only sufficient basis
of virtue or happiness. Hence the parents
most sacred duty to his child is to impress
the sentiments of our holy religion early
upon his mind by personal explanation and
systematic instruction. AS the intellect
EXPANDS, its sacred truths will be compre.
hended and felt, and its motives and prin'
ciples be strengthened and confirmed by
practice and habit.
An essential part of the education OF
youth is to teach them to serve themselves
and to impress upon them the fact that
nothing good can be acquired in this world
without labor; and that the very necessa.
ries and comforts Of life must be procured
bv earnest and regular exertion. They
should also be taught to know that, after
having been reared and educated by theil
parents, they should not expect them tt
nroyide further for them, and that thell
future subsistence and advancement mus
depend upon themselves. Parents some
times commit the mistake of allowing thell
children, after having reached the perloc
of life when they ought to be engaged IL
making livelihood, to rely upon them To-
support. This encourages them in inJuri
GUS idleness, and destroys their spirit o
self.dependence, which is necessary TO
their advancement in life, and causes then
TO appear so unreasonable as to depend
upon them after having arrived at an ag'
when they should think and act for them
selves.
The choice of profession is not of 81
much consequence as the manner In whicl
il is pursued. If habits Of self ant
self denial have been acquired during th'
season of education, the great object ha
been accomplished. Diligence and inte
gritty in any useful pursuit OF life Will o'
sure to secure prosperity and fame, ant
success will result from engaging in tina
business in which the generality of man
kind are interested.
Such being the correct view OF educa
tion, the support and cooperation whicl
faithful teachers should receive from pa
rents can be easily inferred by the goo'
sense of each one. We only ask especia
attention, in concluding, to the following
suggestions, which our experience ha
shown to be of prime importance =.
|. The parent, after committing hi
child to the teaching of another, shoul'
continue to manifest an atfectionate in
terest in his improvement by constant IN
quiry and encouragement. -,
2. The supplying of young persons, whll
absent from their homes, with needles
money, and the permission to contrac