Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-05-22
THE PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN.


Not long ago 40 editor in the northern
part Of the State of New York told his son.
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 so. When the boy heard the father
coming, he became SO alarmed that he Jump
ed out Of the window aud broke bis neck.
About year ago a mother punished her
little daughter, about eight years, By shut
ting her mp IN a dark closet; the child be-
came so frightened that commissions were
induced, which resulted ia DEATH In an.
other case Of similar character, the result
was still more calamitnus, for the child be
came epileptlc and so remained for "A long
life atteTwad. The object of parental cor
rectlon should be the ultimate good of the
child and to make it effective
J.. The character ofthe punishment should
be according TO the disposition and temper.
ament Of the child
2 The punishment 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. stubbornness, or with feel
ing OF being the injured or oppressed party.
4. Punishment should never be threaten
ed, for one of two results, both unfortunate
are certain; either the promise viii not be
kept and the child lose confidence in pareu-
tai assertions; or the child mind, dwelling
upon what Is expected. suffers heightened
torture, Imagination always aggravating the
severity OF the chastisement, and the child
gradually learns to startle at every event
which IS likely to usher in the correction,
and the foundation is laid for that fearfulness
Of the future which Is the bane of all human
happiness and in some cases the severity of
the expected suffering looms up so largely
under the influence Of distampered imagl
nation as IN the case of the editors child,
that suicide Is considered the lesser evil. Ii
is nothing less than a savage barbarity for
any parent to hold the mind of child in a
state Of terrorism for single hour, let alone
for days and weeks
). Never correct a child by scolding, ad-
monition, or castigation, in the presence of
any other person whatever. 1t is an attack
on its self esteem, which provokes resistance
and passion. Let grown persons recollect
how i'll they bear even deserved reproof in
the presence Of Others.
6. Never punish a child twice for one Of
fence; it is a great injustice, relic of bar
barism, and always discourages or hardens.
Make each settlement final in itself, and
don be forever harping on what is past.
7. Punishment should not be effected in
any case without placing clearly before the
child's mind the nature Of the aggravation
and that the sole design Of chastisement
or reproofis his present and future welfare
9. Inall cases where punishmentis decided
upon, it should be prompt, or deferred, ac-
cordiug to the degree Of aggravation or pal
pable wrong 1t is almost always better to
defer it, 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 preparation, but
gradually and afectionately bring up the
whole matter; place it in its 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 mag
nanimity, to its benevolence towards man,
aud gratitude towards God. Halls jour
nal