The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-09-13
NUMBER 81:
Dangers in Bringing Up children.

D6uScIe Al DrtuSiuS Up CnllOr0n.
The cruelty done To children by some
parents, as well as by teachers, is indee
scribahle. Children are held TO he OF
the sarie temperament, OF the same
adaptability to learn, as their parents
and -teachers; yet the boy who cannot
learn his lessons as quickly as another
is thrashed, or he is degraded Id soine
way. Grown people f,rget the intense
misery to which children are thus ex-
posed. The child's horizon is so limi-
ted that he sees no remedy to his woes,
and bis sorrow absorbh bis whole little
being.
"Fathers, provoke not your children
to wrath, lest they be discouraged" II
the life of child be emhittered the res
suit is shyness and secret aversion. Even
a child feels itself wronged, and sense
iof bitterness is implanted in its heart.
We can never think without pity Of q
parent who. lost a promising son by
death, and was hsunted through life by
his parental severity. "My boy" be
said to q friend, s'used to think me cruel,
aud he had too much reason to do so
but he did not Know how loved him at
the bottom OF my heart; and now IT ID
too late r. ~
We often think when he hear Of pa
rents beating their children that they
should rather be indicting the punish.
ment upon themselves They have been
the means Of bringing into being the in-
heritors of their own moral nature. The
child does not make his own temper !;
nor has any control while 4 child over
its directions. II the parents have con-
ferred an irritable temper on the child it
is a duty on their part to exercise self
control, forbearance and patience, so
that the influence OF daily life .msvs in
the course Of time. correct and modify
the defects OF its birth.
| But the "child's will must be broken!'
/ There is no greater fallacy than this.
Will formathe foundation OF character.
Without the strength OF will there will
be no strength Of purpose, Whist is
necessary is not to break the child's will,
but to educate it 10 proper directions /;
and this is not done through tae agency
of force or fear, A thousand instances
might be cited in proof Of this srsle,
ment.
When the parent or teacher relies
chiefly upon pain for controlling the
child's will, the child insenslbly asaoci.
ates duty and obedience with fear and
terror. And when you have thus asso-
ciated command over the will of others
J with pain, you have done ell that you
could to lay the foundations OF bad
character-a bad con, had husband, q
bad father, bad nsighbot, and bad
citizsn. Parents may not think OF this
when they are beating into their children
their own faults; but it is true, never.
theless. There is no doubt that the
command over the will OF. others by
pain leads by degrees to all the several
stages or irritation, injustice, cruelty,
oppression and tyranny.
! When Euffordius, OF Cologne. heard
a great cry issuing from school-house
he opened the door, entered, and rushed
up like lion, and raising bis staff
against the teacher and his assailant,
delivered the boy from their handle
|"What are you doing, tyrant p he said !;
ls'you are placed here to teach, not to
kill scholars"