Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-21
Proper Training.

Proper Training.
ooh, dear, am completely discouraged
bbout that child! He really is getting
luite beyond My control" said a nervous
and foolish mother of 3-year-old boy.
And it was not at all difficult from the
way in which she said it and the express
sion on her face to conclude that she
rather thought the speech an extremely
bright one AMI the situation sort ofsserio
comic bit of domestic byplay. To be sure,
the child paid no attention to what she
said and followed his own sweet will, kick
ing and screaming whenever he wanted
anything that was denied him and max
ing the neighborhood hideous until, by
hook or crook. he cot it.
There il not the least bit of smartness
in Il speech OF that kind. 1t simply shows
conspicuous lack of capacity on the part
of the parent who makes it. A child under
the ago of Is years who refuses to obey the
commands Of it's parents is in need OF most
wholesome discipline, and it might be
said in the same connection that the par
ents are quite as badlyi need of training
as the child. People who bring up their
children in this way have very grave re-
xponsibility at their doors.
The children under Is years of age who
cannot be made to mind belong to the
class from which paupers and criminals
IRE recruited One of the most necessary
parts Of education is to learn to recognize
fixed laws. Failing to do this in infancy,
the child continues to grow more and more
intractable and less likely to yield to dis
cipline of any sort. Such children devel-
op very FESTIVE natures, never satisfied with
what they have and continually straining
after the unattainable. With no habits of
industry they lay no foundation for mate
rial prospe rity, and as n consequence are
more than likely to come to want. They
have nothing and are in want of every
thing. Therefore those who possess the
good things of life are to them objects Of
hatred and envy and all Observation-Disclosures.
From the time a child begins to notice
objects of any sort whatever decided
course of education should begin. First OF
all things, it should learn to respect au-
thority and obey orders promptly. To
teach this lesson there is not the least ne
cessity to indulge in any cruelty of any
sort whatever. The properly trained child
never knows that there is such thing as
disobedience.
1t is held as a fact by many persons that
if the training of children were begun in
proper season such thing as punishment
would be entirely unnecessary, and all of
the scenes and struggles now SO common
in families might be avoided To do this,
however, requires great deal of firmness
and steadfastness of purpose rarely
found, especially in young mothers.
1t is SO nice to let the little one do all
sorts Of cute and smart things, and it
l..
ishment. Misdirccted affection is respon-
sible for nine-tenths of the bad children in
this world 1t is, to be sure. very pretty
to watch the FRANKS and mischief Of u ba-
by, and it is II source of endless amuse-
ment to note the development of its intel
lis,ence in various ways; but, like a great
many other things in this life, the conse-
quences are quite likely to be disastrous.
1t may be questioned whether love, like
great many other of the good gifts of
this world, il not bad teacher. Certainly
justice, firmness and u clear headed recog
milton of authority are much the safer for
the after life of the pupil One of the i'm
portant lessons to impress upon the mind
of u child is that under no circumstances
must it intliet pain upon its fellows or
upon helpless creatures. Many child
because it has not been taught any better.
1t does not realize what such pain means
and should &c taught by the only possible
method. that of actual experience. 1t
seems hard to infict pain upon little chill
dren who know nothing of the causes or
consequences of it. but it is the only way
to cure them of various mischievous tricks.
A mistaken idei, of tenderness and too
firm belief in moral suasion have sent
many child on the road that ended In
the penitentiary or the hanyman's moose
IL il By no means difficult to impress the
little ones with proper ideas. Their minus
are full Of inquiry. and their curiosity
leads them to endless experiment. Satisfy
their interest in Il legitimate way and teach
them the proper bounds OF it. and one Of
the ground principles of success and a COM
Portable career is established. To refrain
from correcting evils because the child may
be made unhappy is like refusing to pull a
thorn ont Of its flesh lest it may cause PAIN.
1t Is much easier to have the whole thing
over. and with all the events impressed on
the mind, than to nllow mischievous disc
bedicnce to grow until It dominates the
entire nature. The mother who would have
her child n credit to society and an honor
to her trimming must under no circum.
stances admit to Il or herself the idea that
she cannot do anything with It or that II
hns grown cut Of her control New York
Ledger.
sha Epclfse~ i .Drscs.
It Is related OF Msss Irel;a Eul;:: T,l,rd
an actress in san Frnuciau, that slJ pr
sistently uurhccks horses TINT sac End
standing with their heads strained back
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