The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25
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church and the community. Since the
parents largely determine not only the
| school, but also the society and church
under whose influence the child must come,
| the responsibility is entirely their own. 1t
| is the parents business to see to it that the
child is under the proper influences, not only
| while at home but also when away from
home. Heaven has placed this responsibility
upon parents and no power earth can
relieve them of it, Refusal to appreciate
| the truth of this statement may cause many
to suffer, not only in this life, but also in
| the life TO come.
| 1t will be readily seen, then. that. as the
children have the parents disposition, as
we'll as their precept and example, which
are too often antagonistic, there need be no
wonder why the chips do not fall far from
the block. If the chips are not of the sound,
sterling oak parents should examine close
| ly and be sure, before criticizing the chips,
that they do not come from a decayed
/ specimen of soft wood.
| IMPERATIVE DUTY OF PARENTS.
Most parents have made many grievous
mistakes in the management of their chill
| dren. but, even yet il may not be too late
to save the precious child. The demand
| with which every parent must comply is,
Train up child in the way he should go
| and when he is old he will not depart
| from it,
The great trouble is that too many
parents act as if they thought the injunc-
ton read "Tell child how he should CO."
| This is the easiest possible thing for a
| parent to do; yet, telling a hundred times
| may only end in disappointment. Other
parents seem to think they should merely
| Teach the child how he should 60" While
| this is a step in the right direction, it
will not answer. 1t is not sufficient to ex
| plain the way; for the child may not be
/ disposed to travel the way indicated. Again,
others seem to think that it means MAN
| age the child so he will start in the way
| he should co. Even this is not sufficient
| for he is almost certain to stray from the
right way into the byway. 1t is not suffi-
| cient to tell the child nor even to teach the
child. nor even to manage the child. Moth
| ing will be sufficient, except a compliance
with the injunction to Train up a child"
Training may imply telling, teaching and
managing; but it also means seeing that the
| child goes in the right way, until going
right becomes a habit. a second nature.
4 This is no small IiiiS IL idI u
1 work.
To all outward appearances. many parents
seem to care but little for the welfare of
| their children. Few parents are just what
| they feel they should be as examples for
| their children, and it is very unpleasant
| to see their own faults repeated in their
| children Nearly all would have it other
! wise. If the truth be known. it would be
seen that almost all would gladly do the
| right thing. but are ignorant as TO just what
| should be done. Not knowing what is best.
| the only thing they can do, is TO act as
| seems best at the time.
With but few exceptions, parents are in
| tensely interested in the welfare of their
| chi dren Their mistakes are errors of
| Judgment rather than of heart. They are
the results of ignorance as to the best
| method of managing the individual child.
| 1t may not be pleasant TO acknowledge this