Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-17
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Government Of Children.
East Concord.

government OF Cnlldren.
As Fanny" wishes to have a "chit chat"
about the children cheerfuly join her, aud
will advance few ideas; although l feel
like one on large island, covered with rare
and beautiful pearls, aud able only to bring
you few, a very few. The government of
children is a subject that should be of great
interest and Importance to parents. Our
little ones are entrusted to our care to be
trained and moulded into noble men and
women. Therefore it is we'll for US to search
for the best means of accomplishing this de-
sired Object-formation of character. If
coercive education be right, it must be pro-
ductive of good, if wrong, of evil. We be-
lieve coercion in most instances unnecessary
and wrong One fact worthy of attention
is the evident disposition toward the aban-
donment Of it, which the more modern sys-
TENS oftraining evince. Children have rights
as we'll as adults. 1t is admitted by all that
"human happiness is the divine will" That
every man has perfect freedom to do all that
he wills, provided he infringes not the rights
or freedom of any other man. The same
law applies as much to the young as to the
mature. The child has faculties to exercise
and should have ample scope for the exer-
else of these faculties. We will give few
examples of the different modes Of govern.
meut that have come under our observation.
Here is household where the rod is sci.
dom used harsh and angry words are I'M
known; pleasant, happy countenanees are
worn by both parent and child, and al air of
neatness and comfort pervades the whole
household. We leave this home with smile
on our own face, and happier heart for
having enjoyed for an hour, the sunshine Of
well.ordered home. We step into another
home here we find as handsome and intelli-
gent looking children as one would wish to
see, but why this restless, unhappy expires.
sion on these little faces We will wait and
and see. No plants are grown here except
one little wandering jew and that has 30
many dislocated joints that it hangs almost
lifeless over the edge Of the broken pitcher con-
tanning it. No pictures ornament the walls
save the landscape on the faithful old time.
piece, while from behind it we see no less
than a dozen well-worn rods pointing as
many different directions as a mariners COM
pass. Paternity with knit brows and in a
severe tone commands obedience with sharp
start and do as bid you, you little wretch,
or you'll catch it." After sundry exhibitions
of perVerse feeling the child starts, showing
however by its sullen countsnance and lnco.
herent mutter the animosity it entertains
1t is ready to return as soon as the pout is
over and enact the same scenes over again
with the addition of several smart applisa'
tions Of the pointers over the clock. The
better feelings Of children under the last
mentioned discipline are as effectuslly crushed
and destroyed as the tender violet beneath
the heavy tread of passing elephant
Character was the thing to be changed
rather than conduct. 1t was not the deedI
but the feelings from which the deed sprung
that required dealing with. First, to gener
ate in the childs mind sympathetic feel
ing, we should show him in all our conduc
that we are thoroughly his friend, that Ou
feelings are in sympathy with his, aud tn
battle is easily won, the victory gained
Although a parents threats may PrOduc
fear in child which will cause a certai
outside conformity with rectitude, they can
not generate any lasting attachment to il
As one has we'll said, "the utmost that Sc
verify can do is to make hypocrites, it can new
make converts" If children fail to have a
interest in the duties they perform, the,
work mechanically never attaining perfection
in anything. Man in his Orignal state wa
not fitted for the civilized and social state +
which civilization and education has led
The natural tendency Of every child to de