The morning call., 1891-06-05
AN OBJECT LESSON.
Is Brute Force Necessary to Teach Chill
dren Moral Truths

Is Brute Force Necessary to Teach Chill
dren Moral Truths?
Editor Morning Gail: ] have Just been
reading story of so edifying nature that
l cannot refrain from sharing with the
readers of the Woman's Column some OF
the profit / have derived from it. The story
in question was written for one of the Lead
ing denominational papers of the country,
and copied from its columns by lesser
journa ], also UNCONVENTIONAL. The teller OF
the tale is supposed TO be man. A model
pater iamillas--we all know them-With
clear ideas, calmly and wisely carried out,
concerning the rearing of children.
This great man aud wise father tells US
an experience with his little six-year-Old
boy. The child had been naughty to the
extent OF committing some childish breach
of discipline. He understood his otfense
clearly and was sorry for it, but here
arose the wisdom of the wise parent.
forced. The child must be punished.
Acknowledgements the sweet reasonable
ness of the arrangement-the little fellow
was sent into the yard to find switch with
which the tender paternal chaStlSement
might be administered. He was gone some
time and returned without switch, but with
something held tight in his little hand. He
explained that he had not been able to find
a switch, as the hedge had Just been
trimmed lie had tried to find shingle,
but Jane had burned the last one, so lie had
brought in stone that papa might throw at
him and thus appeaSe outraged justice ana
uphold pa:eTnal authority. The father, who
tells the tale relates that he was so touched
by the incident that he let the boy of from
punishment just why he did this is hard
TO determine If it was right Tor him 20 de-
termine to so punish the SNAIL human crea-
for
to be swayed from his determination by the
manner in which the situation was met
The chlld'S reasoning was logical and right
There was nothing more cruel or unnatural
about throwing the stone than about using
tie switch in punishment. One would have
been as puerile. as ineffective, as the other.
Isn't il a curious reflection upon our civil
iZati0n that grown man, apparently en-
dOwed with reason, can ind no better
method of impresSiug a sense Of justice,
right and wrong, upon so evidently reasona-
bic young mind than by the lnfictlOn OF
corporal punishment ? When one considers
this question the relative size OF the two be-
ings concerned in it assume amusing pro-
portions.
Toconclude, doubtless many who read this
story. and called it touching" were them
selves touched" in all probability, to a
vague sense Of its path0s. The dear little
fellow ;" some may have exclaimed.
The pathOs, however, lies i'll the fact Of
the inevitable warping of the young soul by
its efforts TO adjust the teachings of the
more mature mind to its small universe.
Tbat it should connect paternal bigness and
power with pain purposely inflicted upon it.
self; that it should thus early experience
the inability Of mind to do away With brute
force III impaTtng tTuths-theSe things are
pathetic, aud it is Infinitely pathetic that
great journal can fad no better way TO
teach the people than by the publication of
such matter. &C.
sai, francisco, June 5, 1881.