The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-20
TALKS TO PARENTS
THE
TRAINING OF CHILDREN
BY VIM. j. sHEARER, A. M, PHI. D.

to learn the lesson of obedience has
everything to learn. The parent who
can secure prompt, implicit obedience
from a ehild Is not likely to have any
trouble in the management of that
chfsI. Since this is so, it must be ac-
knowleGged' that one great requisite
Tor the management of child is to Sc
cure the. chld's obedience. This is
considered of such vital Importance
that fuller treatment of the subject will
be given in a subsequent talk. At that
time the attempt will be made to show
now obedience may easily be secured.
Third Requisite.
Many parents are heard to assert
that they expect their youngest chill
dren to be controlled by correct pri1l-
clples. Though meaning we'll, such
parents make grievouS mistake 1t is
important that every parent should
clearly appreciate the truth and the
Importance of the statement that prin-
clples are for adults and rules for chill
oren. The parent makes a serious
mistake in striving to train a child
W!lnout the use Of rules or other ex-
plic1t direction.
Even young child quite early learns
lnaI certain acts are permitted, while
otnerS are not Such a child canpot
understand the principles upon which
the 1acts depend, but such a child can
De Trained to compliance with demands
When they are clearly understood. Chill
uren who quite early learn to give
compliance to fixed rules will have hut
little trouble in after years. when thew
are compelled to bend to proper an
thority ou
1t must not be forgotten that upon
the parent rests the responsibility of
llAlng correct requirements. Subsection
10 rules of any kind will train the child
IN haDlts or obedience, but will not
lraih the child to be what he should be
unless the rules themselves are based
upon right. If they are not so based he
Will most likely give way to his i'm
pulses when he is freed from the ne
cesslty or complying with the rules.
LIE one great test of the efficiency of
any rule is the ease with which it NAV
De done away with, when once it has
peen firmly established.
some VIII be disposed to say that the
youts chlio cannot be taught to UNI
oerstand the meaning of a rule. Yet
| all careful observers know that eve, q
young enid may be taught that he
Will not get what he cries for. How,
many or US parents have failed tn
teach TINS to even our older chiIdren2
Any child can certainly understand
any rule before he can comprehend
principles underlying the establish
ment of the rule.
Inc child three or four years old who
knows that certain 'punishments are
sure to follow the breaking of rules
which the parents have made viii not
even consider the violation of those
rules. This fact was shown conclusive
ly in the writer's family within the
past week. Edith, who is but three
years old, told her older brothers that
she would not leave the table before
she was excused, because if she did she
would have to sit on a chair long
time. Very gradually a child will learn
that the rules are founded upon what
is right, and thereafter will be gov
erned, in part, by the principle involve
ed.
When the child reaches the age of
twelve or fifteen, the age of pubescenee
there VIII be less need of rigid rules.
In faet, IL the training has been such
as it should have been such a child
VIII be governed, in great part, by cor
rect principles. This is the time that
there should be an effort made to re.
place rules made by the parents with
those rules or principles which the
child is able to understand and accept
for himself. Parents should also exer-
else great care in seeing that no more
rules are made than are absolutely
necessary.
Fourth Requisite.
The fourth requisite to be mentioned
is that of kindness. Every parent wor-
thy of the name wishes TO be kind. Too
few love their children wisely StilI less
fully realize the all-eonquering power
of kindness Those who have had ex-
perience with criminals will testify, to
the truth of the statement that the cal
lOuS heart OF the confirmed cr;y,,iool
though it makes no answer to severity
or suffering. yet becomes soft as a
child's under the influence of real kind
ness. AGAINST which no human heart is
proof Can it be that the hardened
tenant of the prison cell is easier to