The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-05-19
BRIEF EDUCATIONAL ESSAYS.
Hints OH Domestic Education-The Moth
er's Part.
DoN.IDSoNyTIJE Nav 1G 1S9S

Hints OH Domestic Education-The Moth
er's Part.
DoNALDsoNvILLE, May 49, 1888.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Nothing is more important than educa-
ton. Every comfort, whether it be of a
temporal or an eternal nature, depends
upon it. Education comprehends all that
series of instruction and discipline which is
intended to enlighten the understanding,
correct the temper and form the manners
and habits of youth, and fit them for useful
ness in their future stations. To give
children good education in manners, arts
and science, is important; to give them a
religious education, is Indispensable; and
immense responsibility rests on parents and
guardians who neglect these duties.''
Our education commences at a very early
period in our existence. The tender and
helpless infant is scholar, and learns daily
its lessons from both mother and nurse. It
is great mistake to suppose that our edu-
cation does not begin until we are sent to
school; for, previous to this time of life,
or beneficial. Sound moral principle may
be implanted in the human bosom at a very
early day by precept, and especially by
example. A child will learn to sfalsify and
to use profane language as soon as it can
command the organs Of speech; and Ger
tainly it can be instructed to regard the
truth and employ good language. These
remarks we make that we may prepare the
teacher, and should give daily lessons to the
prattling babe which she dandles so fondly
on her knee. The mother has the formation
of her child's manners, principles, language
that child should look up to and copy after
| its mother? And what can be more certain,
! than that rudeness of manner and language
on the part of a mother, will produce the
same qualities in the manner and language
of the child?
Mothers should be exceedingly watchful
over every word which they utter and every
action which they perform, and especially
Mothers can not be too careful in guarding
| against pretarication. I use the term pre-
varication, meaning thereby those depart
ures from the truth which characterize so
to enforce obedience on the part of
their little charge. And that l may
be fully comprehended, / will illustrate
what I mean by asking mothers how often
they will tell their children that GA drunken
man will catch them if they do so and so?"
The impropriety of this must be apparent
to every rejecting mother. I haye known
older children, under whose care younger
ones were placed, employ precisely the same
means when they wished to be obeyed.
These children had learned the design of the
language; they knew that what they said
was false, but they had good authority
their mother taught them. In this way,
mothers, without intending it, instruct their
children to utter falsehoods calmly and
deliberately when they wish to accomplish
an end. It would be much better to use the
rod when children prove disobedient, be-
cause this means has the desired effect, and
implants no immoral principle. "He that
spareth the rod hateth his son; but he that
loveth him chasteneth him betimes.''
Every attention should be given by moth
ersto teach their children correct orthoepy.
The practice Of talking what is termed ''baby
talk" is absurd and abominable. But not
withstanding this, we often hear mothers of
good education and refined taste, convers-
ing with their children after this style.
Mothers would be astonished and offended
were teachers to give lessons to their chill
dren in this pretty and loving language.
But upon what grounds could they find
fault while they, instead of teaching their
children to pronounce correctly, teach them
by their daily conversation the most out
landish orthccDy.
I would not have mothers employ high
flown words-this would condemn in any
one: but [ would have them use chaste Ian
guage, and give every word its proper and
full pronunciation. The propriety of this
must appear plainly to all. Children learn
to talk by hearing others talk and as they
hear others talk, so will they learn to talk
Another duty to which we would ask the
attention of mothers is that of answering
questions. The human mind 1nanifests
disposition to gather information at an
early period. At first, those things which
are near attract its attention, and desire
to know what they are and what they are
for is Immediately exhibited. This desire
should always be satisfied when made known
under proper circumstances. Mothers know
how inquisitiye children are. It is true,
this inquisitiveness is often times perplex-
ing, in consequence Of it's untimely indul-
gence. This, however, can be regulated by
little care. To be little more explicit:
children often present inquiries while their
mother is engaged and can not return an
answer conveniently. How to act under
such circumstances has perplexed mothers
frequently. My opinion is, that aoruptness
should by all means be avoided, because, at
this important time, if children are treated
angrily, they may cease their inquiries, and
in this way the avenue to their minds viii
be closed, at least for time. 1t would be
much better to inform the little inquirer, IN
kind manner, that its inquiry would be
answered at more convenient moment
If this course is adopted, the spirit is not
quenched and the child is taught patience
Very little care would be required to train
a child to act properly while seeking infor-
nation.