Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-06-09
DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN.
Should lie an Ever atchfni Love Tim
Guides and Warns

u Should he an Ever-watchfui Love That
Guides and Warns.
IT has frequently been noted by wise
observers of men and things that those
children who are brought up with little
parental discipline develop into more
capable individuals than those who are
compelled at home to obey the strict
letter OF the law. 1t would seem that
the Old rule Spare the rod and spoil
child is contradicted by experience.
Yet If we observe the matter closely
we can hardly draw this deduction. It
is certainly true that child brought
up without any freedom of action, con-
troled at every turn he takes, is very
apt to be enervatcd by the process. He
mas learned nothing from experience
and is quite likely to yield a slavish
obedience in the outside world where
no obedience is demanded. In short, to
use the old phrase, he has all the spirit
taken out of him. This rigid home
discipline is happily rare in the
present day. Only strong intellect
can survive without being weakened by
such an education. All the spirit of the
present day, in schools as well as in
home life, is toward greater freedom of
action on the part of children Stu
uents have meetings of their own, pass
laws of their own, and are placed on
their honor, rs it would have been i'm.
possible to do fifty years ago.
Yet to-day there can be no doubt that
the average schools are better disci.
pinned, and the average student is more
of gentleman than was the case even
score OF years ago, when petty espion-
age was part of disciplinary system.
The outside observer is quite likely tC
look upon the present state of things as
wholly lacking in discipline, but such is
not the case. The child who is allowed
TO grow up helter-skelter, with no par.
entail control or care, may develop into an
able, reliable, intelligent individual, but
the chances are against him. He is not
to be COMPOUNDED for q moment with
one who, though continually subject to
parental care and guidance, is yet given
his own free will and is made fellow
worker with his parents, and not q
servile slave The one is allowed to rur
riot like a lank weed, the other to grow
to his fullest capacity like well-nur
tured garden plant.
Boys and girls should be allowed t.
have an individuality of their own; to
have a room and belongings sacred t.
themselves alone, where they can bring
their friends; and while it is necessary
OF course, that the parents should al
ways exercise supervision over every
thing, it should be gentle supervision
They must become confidants of theil
children, and must themselves have livet
such true and loyal lives as to be worthy
of such confidence. Children who hav,
been brought up in an atmosphere o
truthfulness, of high ideas, who hav
not been pampered with the gratifica
ton of selfish whims, are not likely t,
go far astray. The silly mother VIII,
allows her maternal love to control he
common sense, who does not contro
her children when she sees evil i'm
pulses and evil passions taking posses
sion of them, is of course the wealSes
and most Objectionable parent, and tn
evil she has ignored, or even en-
couraged, may be the destruction o
her child and bring her to shame an
confusion. The overstrict mother VIII
gives her children no experience an
life of their own makes almost as bad
i A
the two. The discipline of home Shout
be an ever-watchful care and love whic
guides and warns, without confusion
and yet is as effectual as compulsion.
N. Y. Tribune.