The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-16
Advanced view. on Child Culture

Advanced Views on Child Culture.
A recent book about the training Of
children. by Mrs Charlotte Perkins Stet-
son, is likely to afford considerable
amusement and some instruction to par
ents. This lady may or may not have
had much experience in the upbringing
of children, but one or two of the things
| she says incline one to believe that she
has not. On one page we find the state
! ment:
'.lf we punish I child in way that seems te
| him unjust, he is unjus'ly punished
Most parents will smile over this re-
mark. There would be few children pun
ished if the chld's opinion in the case
were followed. The ordinary view of the
| matter is that the child is chastised by
| way of educating his sense of justice. and
that he learns what is and is not right by
being made to remember when he does
| wrong. There are worse theories than
this, if one is careful only TO punish the
child for real wrongdoing.
But how is the average grown person
to see what is child's idea of justice ?
tour-year-old sees piece of machinery
revolving and wants to investigate it. If
he gets near enough to do this he will
probably be killed. He cannot see, how
ever, any reason why he should not be
allowed to do so, and the prohibition Is
unjust from his point of view. Many CT
the laws of the universe are of sort
whose justice cannot be perceived by the
child. 1t is all very we'll to teach the
youthful mind to see the reason for obedi-
ence, but there are times when obedience
must be exacted without any visible rea-
son.
Again. Mrs. Stetson points out the fact
that the domestic tribunal is arbitrary and
absolute, that nobody Can step in and pre-
vent unjust decisions. This is true. but 1t
is rather hard to see how, even in the
most advanced state of civilization, it can
be helped. 1t is true that some parents
are not as competent to govern their chill
dren as outsiders would be, for the mere
fact Of parenthood does not always make
violent, morose, or suspicious person fit
to rule others; but outsiders can seldom
stSp uctWeeu parent duu cuilu Win ROOu
results, especially If they are armed with
mere legal authority. 1t often happens
that some kindly neighbc: will give to an
abused child the affection and gentle treat
ment 1t ought to have at home, and thus
undo some of the evil caused by bad train
Ing; but even in such q case the person
who intervenes must be acquainted with
the child and the circumstances, and pos
sessed OF considerable tact.
And again, If outsiders are to be given
power over the home, who is to be the
informant? The child is hardly trustworthy
in such case, for untruthfulness is one
Of the commonest OF childish sins, par
ticularly when the parent is unduly severe.
The neghbors are hardly more reliable,
especially in the case of child brought UP
by some one not its mother. The step
mother has been made a bugbear to SO
many children that the task Of that much
tried woman is often made impossible
where it might be easy, and the same
thing may be said OF the maiden aunt, or
other guardian not parent. On the whole.
however advanced education may become,
1t seems as if the education Of children
might as well remain where the Lord left
1t, in the hands Of their parents.