Proper Education
7
There is danger of both parents and teachers commanding and dic-
tating too much, while they fail to come sufficiently into social relation
with their children, or their scholars. They often hold themselves too
much reserved, and exercise their authority in a cold, unsympathizing
manner, which cannot win the hearts of their children and pupils. If
they would gather the children close to them, and show that they love
them, and manifest an interest in all their efforts, and even in their
sports, and sometimes be even a child among them, they would make
the children very happy, would gain their love, and win their confi-
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dence. And the children would sooner respect and love the authority
of their parents and teachers.
The principles and habits of the teacher should be considered of
greater importance than even his literary qualifications. If the teacher
is a sincere Christian, he will feel the necessity of having an equal
interest in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual education of his
scholars. In order to exert the right influence, he should have perfect
control over himself, and his own heart should be richly imbued with
love for his pupils, which will be seen in his looks, words, and acts.
He should have firmness of character; then he can mould the minds of
his pupils, as well as instruct them in the sciences.
The early education of youth generally shapes their character for
life. Those who deal with the young should be very careful to call out
the qualities of the mind, that they may better know how to direct their
powers, and that they may be exercised to the very best account.
Many children have been ruined for life by urging the intellect,
and neglecting to strengthen the physical powers. Many have died in
childhood because of the course pursued by injudicious parents and
school-teachers in forcing their young intellects, by flattery or fear,
when they were too young to see the inside of a school-room. Their
minds have been taxed with lessons, when they should not have been
called out, but kept back until the physical constitution was strong
enough to endure mental effort. Small children should be left as free
as lambs to run out-of-doors, to be free and happy, and should be
allowed the most favorable opportunities to lay the foundation for
sound constitutions.
Parents should be the only teachers of their children until they
have reached eight or ten years of age. As fast as their minds can
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comprehend it, the parents should open before them God’s great book