News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-05-07
TRAINING CHILDREN.
Suggestions on the Important Daty of
PARENTS.

The proper method of training chill
dren is one that has been thoroughly
discussed, and the problem is no nearer
a satisfactory solution now than it has
been since its inception. 1t is one OF
those perplexing questions that furnish
material for interminable argument.
The mind of every parent seems to be
invested with his or her peculiar lndi-
viduaI theory as to how the seeds of NOR
atty, industry and intelligence should be
sown during the days OF adolescence
that they may produce their legitimate
results at maturity. Years and expert
ence. which should afford us the oppor-
tunity of comparing our powers OF per-
ception with those of others, fail to cor
rect the inconsistent expectations which
arise from want of capacity and dis
criminative observation to set the right
value upon the responsible task of
character moulding" 1t frequently
happens that the wisdom We gain in this
respect comes too late, and the object
which we sought may be absolutely I'M
attainable.
Many parents begin at the wrong end.
The exercise of severe influence is pro-
ductive of no good result, and in their
efforts to implant in the young mind the
fatal consequences of association with
an immoral and vicious world they I'M
consciously drift into extremes. The
safeguards ofadmonition are regarded as
too simple, too important, and oral advice
is not infrequently emphasized by physi-
cal argument. A rigid surveillance is
kept over their actions, everything they
attempt is met with severe restrictive
policy. The panorama of everyday life
is kept from their gaze and study; they
are kept aloof from everything that has
the semblance of worldly pleasure, at
which the young nature finally rebels,
and the influence of this dangerous re-
straining power is sure to assert itself.
The life of the child becomes monoto-
nous under this course of treatment. 1t
longs for liberty of thought and action,
and, like bird released from its prison
cage, when it gets beyond the threshold
OF home it finds itself apparently in a
new world--a world of deceit, temptation
and seductive infiuencas-and in nine
cases out of ten it falls an easy victim.
Still another method presents itself.
Some parents say:--"Oh, let my child
SOW its wild oats; it will settle down
after awhile" But this view of the case
frequently recoils with sorrow and dis
grace upon the parents. Left to follow
the dictates of their own minds, with no
restraining hand to check them, they
are suddenly caught up in the net of
temptation and lost beyond redemption.
Youth, however, is not without its guide
if it will take warning from example.
This is well, but youth must have some
one to teach it, to watch over it and to
impress it with the necessity of cultivat-
ing those virtues that give character
and honor to manhood and womanhood.
The foundation must be firm upon
which to rear the superstructure, and
it depends entirely upon the wisdom of
the parent what kind of material shall
constitute this foundation.
A writer on this subject once peril
nentiy said Every man wants three
sorts of education, one, to fit him for
his own particular trade or calling-this
is professional education; two, to teach
him his duty as a man and citizen
this is moral and political education;
three, to fit him for his higher relations,
as Gods creature designed for immor-
tality--this is religious education" And
it strikes the writer very fcrcibly that
this combination of virtues is a pretty
stable foundation upon which to build
up the character of youth. There is
evidently too much restraining power in
the one case and indifference and apathy
in the other.-Phitadell1hia CaU.