The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-03-13
GOVERNMENT or CHILDREN

tional idea Of conduct. and they are left
In the dark rs TO the reasons for the
multiplicity Of prohibitions that sur
round them. II little Charley Is very
desirous of doing some particular thing
that he Is merely told not 10 do, he per-
sists with his intent. because ho can see
qualification ahead, and because the
only obstacle that he finds opposed to
him when no asks "WhygN is the "l3o-
cause You musn't.n Of bis mother. After
such an irrational answcrno one should
blame the child II he follows his intent
lie can take no such wide view OF the
matter In the conflict OF motives rs an
adult usually takes, for his view Is as
narrow rs the horizon Of his experience,
and with those limits he finds nothing
10 restrain his contemplated conduct.
Love for his mother would exercise a
great influence over him II ho found Il
displayed In way that he could COM
prehend; but he cannot comprehend
because = or 'liecaunp | don't want
you 70 do r. That IL he cannot COM
prchend is intent but ho soon draws
his conclusions. and they are Just con-
trary TO those that his mother would
have him draw While he regards her
as friendly 10 him. he looks upon her as
manifesting her regard for him In 4
very unfricndly way, for sho would de-
prive him Of expected pleasure with no
assignable reason, unless 10 limit his
pleasures; and the opinion Is forced
Epon him that his mother is a whimsical
person, whose iniunctions have no ra-
tional basis and arc 70 be evadcd as
best they can. II n mother has an un-
governablc child. II is her own fault, or
the fathers. not the child's
II Is because a parent often stands
between child and what he supposes
10 be the object of his pleasure, that the
resort TO bribery Ia made as tho price Of
self-denial. In restraining, such at
tempted explanations as 1T Is all for
your good II know what Ia proper
for you better than you do yourself, :"
are meaningless, because they explain
nothing ILc Is incompetent TO under
stand the future that his mother has in
view, or how this treatment conduces
to the happiness of that future. but he
Judges by his own feelings, and, as
these feelings are outraged by one pro-
Tossing to be friendly TO him, he is scep-
teal either regarding the friendship or
regarding the competence Of his own
parent to regulate his conduct The
government Of the child in time comes
to be looked upon as hopeless task.
and he Is considered wilful and un-
grateful. IA well aS dispbcdicnt The
fact that all yigoro4s minded children
act this way undeH maladmlnistratlon
OF government seems mot TO impress pa
rents with tho idea that their system il
wrong, hut that there n an unnatural
perycrsity in their children In develop
ing from infancy to adult life, the child
| passes through phases Of nature pecu
| liar to a race in its development from
barbarism to civilization. Ho Is unjust
ignorant, wanting 10 foresight, tyran
nical. destructive, mendacious, pilfer
ing, combatiye and cowardly. Beside
trespassing on the rights Of others, h
| will do many things detrimental 70 hi
future welfare il he Is not restrained
and Il should be the parents study b
find out how the restraint may be main
tanned as mental influence, instead O
a physical one, and in such way tina
the child can comprehend II.
Nature Is the great teacher. her pen
alties are inexorable, her rewards ar,
precious. Pain Is the consequence o
transgression; pleasure, Of adaptation
The child will understand that ii Il
wrong to do what his mother tells hin
not TO do, IL he is made to associate q
painful experience with the forbidden
conduct and directly resulting from It.
Il Is not every mothers love that will
permit this suffering. for il Is often ia.
capable Of taking account Of anything
beyond immediate effects; but the way
Is clear nevertheless, and the mother.
or father, who docs not follow Ii does o
wrong to the child. A child learns not
to fall. not to put his finger In hot
place, nor to touch sharp point. be-
cause these experiences are painful Let
him, IN all instances. derive pain from
his wrong doings, and he win avoid
them; he can comprehend this, and the
employment of the method will Be .
government Of itSelf.in place Of parental
Injunction alone. There are two branch
es, however, TO tho effects of this con-
duct, one Affects himself, tho other
affects others. II he uses q sharp knife
uDskilfully, the penalty Is a cut. and
this consequently follows with such ur-
varying regularity that he soon learns
to be careful enough TO protect himself
by proper handling. The injury direct
" consequent upon himself from his
maladaptation be conIprehends, and
will avoid BY not doing that which
brings the pain. The only fear IS that
nature win teach this lesson TOO well,
and main. or disiigure, Or cripple him;
whereas. under the watchful care Of pa
rents, he might learn the lesson under
less severe penalties. Instead Of keep
ing the child away from the sources Of
physical pain. by all means lcf him
learn what it is in its relation Is an
effect from cause, but take care that
he docs not incur too painful consequent
ecs. He can be made to infer these
from les painful ones that atc related 70
them. He will realize the danger Of
cutting OF his toe with an axe from tho
slight wound that q penknife may IN
flict upon his hand. Il he eannot un-
derstand why he should not have the
axe. lead him to recall his experience
with a knife.