The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-04
What Becomes Of oil the PROMISING
ChildrenY

inquiry - to theIro14OnS Why 'sprOmis
ins'i , children 80 seldom ttprn, out AZ pa
rents and friends anticipate, the Phila
delphia fathc Lxedgesrr discovers a poten
cause Of failure which parents will fint
worthy of serious consideration. Ate
speaking Of the more familiar ways O
spelling children by unwise management
or Improper training, the, ,Lsdgey says
The truth u.s., we need MORE lore
thought and less self.indulgence ia th,
training IF Our Youth W. please our
selves too much, and study their future
too little. 1t is so easy and pleasant Il
Crafty our own, vanity or ambition by
stimulating and exhibiting them in point.
where they excel; it is so hard and com
paratfvely tame to exercise them in what
they are deficient, and to foster theil
most nseager abilities Yet until educa.
tors acquire the necessary self.control
and patience to do the latter; until they
can work quietly and steadfastly without
display, and tx their aim on future re.
suits instead 81 present glitter, the mos,
promising children will continue to sink
down into inferior men and women,
The qualities that are the most attrac.
tive in childhood, are not by any means
the most valuable in maturity. T., We
lopk Tor determination, will, decision OF
character, firtnness iii the man, and re.
fuse him our respect II he have them
not. But when the child exhibits these
qualities, even;iA their incipient stages,
We ere annoyed, and, perhaps, repplsed.
Instead of rejoicing in his strength of
will and guiding it Into right channels,
We lament It as i grievoas fault in him
and misfortune to US. It is the meek
and yielding child. who cares not to de.
eide, anything hEe himsalf, in whom We
delight. and whose ,feeblel will we make
still feeb1er BY. denying it all exercise.
Y@t, when grows Up and enters the
world and yields ~ temptation, and,
perhaps, dis racesg himself and his
family, we,1 look at him in i'm
beetle wonder that A. good a child
shpuld have turned oft to be- 50 bad a
man, when, ID truth, his course has
only been tne' natural outcome " ii his
past iae' ahdi trimming. n The power Of
standing linn and going alone Ne know
to- haadesirable in the adult, but the
obildq seems, mora lpvable who is utterly
dependent upon u.s.. and ne therefore
strive to cherish this dependence, shut
ting our eyes to the fact that We are
thus actually uniting him for the life
that awsits him., Conc ntation, too, is
. quality, that we admire In the adult
but greatly underyalue in the child. We
prefer that he may be easily drawn, away
from what he IS engaged in, and quick.
ly turned from one thing to another at
our plessuEs; 1and while We praise him
for his1eady Obedience, or rebuke him
for sesmiin!gg ,taahsorbed. We. are, really
breaking down TIE power, OF, cenceDtra.
resnIsss Il '5H'* Nv" ~ ~ "s sA'PfE'eS
1t''b4srte Chit asahy things are 'sui.s.
bic fdS mauhood that are NOT for child. |
hood, but this is MT The case with mee-
tai and moral aualitiea. 44Hit we're there
could be no such thing as consistent
preparation for ! good and useful life. |
Every quality t6St! the man Of woman |
dteds 10 ihcibisAt: IN the child and needs
Developments cad sxsTois. q Ourpast il !
his training isaat IA cherish, in him siaa-
Ply What is most attractive to ourselves,
Dr. what feeds our own, and bis vanity, I
but rather t. study His future needs and
70 help him 10 supply what is most Lack
ing. 1T ID where The is deficient, not
where ha, exeels, that our earnest efforts
sre demanded. Not until parents and
'eachers realize this 80 fully as to identi-
y with It, their highest interest and
pleasure in their charges WIN promis-
ngi children fulfill tksff ptomises, and
he question no longer be asked, "What
has become 0fethNm7"t II bas htfnq ia