170
Child Guidance
close and cutting they may be; and it teaches children perfect submis-
sion to their parents and to God. By Abraham’s obedience we are
taught that nothing is too precious for us to give to God
Youth Will Respond to Trust—The youth must be impressed
with the idea that they are trusted. They have a sense of honor, and
they want to be respected, and it is their right. If pupils receive the
impression that they cannot go out or come in, sit at the table, or be
anywhere, even in their rooms, except they are watched, a critical
eye is upon them to criticize and report, it will have the influence to
demoralize, and pastime will have no pleasure in it. This knowledge
of a continual oversight is more than a parental guardianship, and far
worse; for wise parents can, through tact, often discern beneath the
surface and see the working of the restless mind under the longings
of youth, or under the forces of temptations, and set their plans to
work to counteract evils. But this constant watchfulness is not natural,
and produces evils that it is seeking to avoid. The healthfulness of
[226]
youth requires exercise, cheerfulness, and a happy, pleasant atmo-
sphere surrounding them, for the development of physical health and
symmetrical character
Self-government Versus Absolute Authority—There are many
families of children who appear to be well trained, while under the
training discipline; but when the system which has held them to set
rules is broken up, they seem to be incapable of thinking, acting, or
deciding for themselves. These children have been so long under iron
rule, not allowed to think and act for themselves in those things in
which it was highly proper that they should, that they have no confi-
dence in themselves to move out upon their own judgment, having an
opinion of their own. And when they go out from their parents to act
for themselves, they are easily led by others’ judgment in the wrong
direction. They have not stability of character. They have not been
thrown upon their own judgment as fast and as far as practicable, and
therefore their minds have not been properly developed and strength-
ened. They have so long been absolutely controlled by their parents
that they rely wholly upon them; their parents are mind and judgment
for them.
10
Testimonies For The Church 3:368
.
11
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 114
.