158
Child Guidance
Children should early be trained to submit their will and inclination
to the will and authority of their parents. When parents teach their
children this lesson, they are educating them to submit to God’s will
and obey His requirements, and fitting them to be members of Christ’s
family
To Be Guided, Not Crushed—To direct the child’s development
without hindering it by undue control should be the study of both
parent and teacher. Too much management is as bad as too little. The
effort to “break the will” of a child is a terrible mistake. Minds are
constituted differently; while force may secure outward submission,
the result with many children is a more determined rebellion of the
heart. Even should the parent or teacher succeed in gaining the control
he seeks, the outcome may be no less harmful to the child....
Since the surrender of the will is so much more difficult for some
pupils than for others, the teacher should make obedience to his re-
quirements as easy as possible. The will should be guided and molded,
but not ignored or crushed
Lead; Never Drive—Allow the children under your care to have
an individuality, as well as yourselves. Ever try to lead them, but never
drive them
Exercise of Will Expands and Strengthens Mind—A child may
be so trained as to have ... no will of his own. Even his individuality
[211]
may be merged in the one who superintends his training; his will, to
all intents and purposes, is subject to the will of the teacher. Children
who are thus educated will ever be deficient in moral energy and
individual responsibility. They have not been taught to move from
reason and principle; their wills have been controlled by another, and
the mind has not been called out, that it might expand and strengthen
by exercise. They have not been directed and disciplined with respect
to their peculiar constitutions and capabilities of mind, to put forth
their strongest powers when required
When There Is a Clash of Wills—If the child has a stubborn will,
the mother, if she understands her responsibility, will realize that this
stubborn will is part of the inheritance she has given him. She will
5
Manuscript 119, 1899
.
6
Education, 288, 189
.
7
Testimonies For The Church 5:653
.
8
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 74
.