Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-01-03
The Science of Bringing up Children

Tt is a paradoxical truth that the only
persons whom the Creator has endowed
with an instructive knowledge of cor
rect methods of bringing up children
are the very ones who never have any.
Blessings and burdens are frequently
deposited upon the shoulders of the
unappreciative and weak, respectively
1t is very simple matter-this bring
ing up of other peoples children: 1t IS
like saving money for other people, and
there is no one of us but can offer valu-
able hints and theories upon either
subject. The study of child nature is
one of the most interesting things In the
world. This latter end of the century
offers suggestion of it merely, but the
twentieth century will open up the in
tricacies of it and no branch of natural
history has ever yielded up the treas
ures to mankind that this new science
will unfold.
General Booth coined a good word
when he invented one to express heart
science. He called it ''heartology." This
science as study is one which rare
ly gets or needs to get higher than an
obiect-lesson grade, but it is none the
less important on that account, nor is
it easy of comprehension, for all its
simplicity, because it all depends upon
the recepectivity of the students mind.
1t embraces justice, sympathy, good
sense and love, a quartette OF quallhca-
tions required to deal successfully with
both young and old, and as soon as the
study becomes dignified with the title
of science, human nature will respond
to it's teachings. Mental philosophy,
moral philosophy and theology have
all defeated their own ends. Heart
ology will appeal where high-soundlng
scientific names have failed to inter
est. Now Neurology is what the world
needs to help bring up the children.
That old sspare- the-rod- spoil-the-
child theory has had all creation by
the ears ever since it was invented.
Had it been quoted less and that better
one, parents, provoke not your chill
dren to wrath been dwelt upon more,
the human family had been better
equipped to meet the emergencies OF
life.
1t is one of the signs of advancing
times that young women are studying
to be kindergartners. Every grown
daughter of every household in the
land should be regarded as very indif-
ferently educated until she has studied
to be a Kindergarten. 1t is the pre-
paratory course to that other without
which no woman's life is complete
maternity Even though that ideal
office in life may never be hers, the
world needs her young energy and en-
thus1asm and sympathy none the less
In every department of good work be
ing done the kindergarten idea is OF
paramount Importance. 1t means
child-culture, simple phrasing, but
one of unfathomable meaning. 1t is 9
" l,at
the nature of every child you meet and
allow YOU to enter the childish heart
Mothers and fathers so often fail to dc
this. Bringing up the children wei
doesn't mean alone supplying the neces
stiles, neither the comforts nor yet the
luxuries of life Many of the children
who enjoy the privileges of culture, az
it is circumscribed by don't rules, are
infinitely more miserable than the
street urchin who can count the star
as in their nocturnal parade they pass
the holes in the roof above his bed TO
his special edification.
If the bond of sympathy between
parent and child is not cemented earl.
in the life of the latter it never will be
Children have great intuitive faculties
They can gauge human character b,
action and the lack of it to nicely o
which the grown-up world has no con
ception. The science of bringing VI
children will let in a little light upol
their abilities in this direction which
will be of incalculable value. Ever.
child in the world has a nature which
will respond gratefully to appreciativ'
recognition. The new science will sug
gest the watchword. 1t won't say mucl
about the rod. Capital punishment i
gradually becoming more and NOR
unpopular; the whipping post has gon
out of fashion, the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals fills ;
want, and even the children are pro
tected to a certain extent. But TIN
children's cause is looking up. TIL
new science will make them an objec
of moral and spiritual research.-BaH
San.