The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-20
SECOND TALK-PRIMARY REQUI-
SIZES OE PROPER TRAINING

There are so many things to be done
and so many more which should be
avoided that 1T scarcely seems possible
to say what are the most important
requisites of proper training. How
ever, very careful consideration of
the matter has led to the conviction
that the following requisites are of the
greatest Importance. Indeed, it may
be safe to assert that the parents who
can comply with all these, all the time,
will have but little, If any. trouble in
the management of their children.
First Requisite.
Children are creatures of imitation.
The first years, spent largely with the
parents, is the period when their ma
ture are susceptible in the highest de-
gree to all kinds of impressions.
Therefore one all-important requisite
for the proper training Of a child is
that the parents furnish the child with
a good example. By the parents pre-
cept and example the child is being
daily cast into a certain mold. The
noble and the base are being stamped
in the character of the child, and will
go with it through life and make or
mar it for time and for eternity.
While it may be said that this is the
case with all examples which influence
the child, yet it is especially so with
the parents example; for, indelibly
fixed in the child's nature Is the belief
that what its parents do is right and
best.
Wonder not then that in the child is
seen reflected, as from a mirror, the
parents peculiarities. be they good or
be they evil By look, by thought, by
word and by act, the parents sow the
seed in the susceptible heart Of the
child; seed which will take root,
spring up, bud, blossom and bear ap-
propriate fruit. How terrible this
truth! With what care this RESPONSE
bility should lead parents to strive for
the cultivation, in themselves, of better
habits!
Happy the child whose parents ex-
ample is what it should be! His
chances in life are the brightest. God
pity the rest. Hir miracles may save
them. When we consider how many
do not have the right kind of example
the wonder is, not that so many go
wrong, but that any go right. Pre-
eepts are important, but. even with
ADULTS, an ounce OF example is worth
a pound of precept; with children it is
worth far more
On the part of the parents there is
too much disposition to criticise. and
too little thought as to the example be-
ing given daily and hourly. Children
need more good models and less sharp
SAA1ASo. iC sui anu the SG6Q are the
parents and so will be the harvest.
Since the parents precepts and exam
pie so largely determine the child's fu-
ture happiness, what a grand thing il
would be if the child could select its
parents! Too many parents have CIV
en- their children birth and nothing
else.
Second Requisite.
For the welfare of the child as well
as for the happiness of the parents, it
is absolutely essential that a child
learn to obey. Very early in life a
child discovers that outside of himself
there is force to which he must bend.
Very early he should learn that to this
authority he must yield implicit ODE
dience. As child grows older he dis
covers that, not only in the mother or
father. but in the school and In society.
as we'll there is authority which he
must respect.
The child who has been taught to
obey his parents may easily be train
ed to do whatever the parents would
have him do. A child who has failed