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Chapter 34—Discipline
One of the first lessons that children need to learn is the lesson of
obedience. Before they are old enough to reason, they may be taught
to obey. By gentle, persistent effort, the habit should be established.
To a great degree this may prevent those later conflicts between will
and authority that create alienation and bitterness toward parents and
teachers, and too often resistance of all authority, human and divine.
The object of discipline is to train children for self-government.
They should be taught self-reliance and self-control. As soon as they
are able to understand, their reasoning powers should be enlisted
on the side of obedience. Show them that obedience is right and
reasonable. Help them see that disobedience leads to disaster and
suffering. When God says “You shall not,” He is, in love, warning
us of the consequences of disobedience, in order to save us from
harm and loss.
Help children see that parents and teachers are representatives
of God, and that as they act in harmony with Him, their laws in the
home and the school are also His. As children are to obey parents
and teachers, they also are to obey God.
Right Use of the Will
To direct the child’s development without hindering it by undue
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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. While force may secure outward
submission, the result with many children is a more determined
rebellion of the heart. Even if the parent or teacher succeeds in
gaining control, the outcome may be no less harmful to the child.
The discipline of a human being who has reached the years
of intelligence should differ from the training of a dumb animal.
The beast is taught only submission to its master. For the beast,
the master is mind, judgment, and will. This method, sometimes
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