DISCIPLINE AND THE CHILD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 244, 8 July 1908, Page 5

DISCIPLINE AND THE CHILD.

. • .BEiKfllC-—— . J. . ; ■, ' ''A writer in the English "Guardian," who recently visited tho States, Js- very-much interested insSlje.jyay Amoricari children are treated 'by their teachers,; arid the childreri s attitude' towards those in authority. Classroom", discipline is 'dependent "on the ; personality of tho i.c\»cher rathep: than on any traditional ; There ii ,an absen.ee of drill, ..a of precision; and what discipline therejs seems to 'be. founded, on an ap-. .peal ito' tlHi individual- reason and commonsense of boy ,or girl,' rather, than t'o.'any principle of) authority. The: response seems to sb'er"Unffiiling, for, apparently, ' American children ar|4much . more mature than their English contemporaries jn and ■the dps ire tp learn. .-'/ The' aim from 'the begin-, ning/is-to wake tho.inaiyldual child efficient, and ,"<todevelop his;; 'individuality. ; This systein, o® . course, carries , its - effects into? i the /'fflidt :Airierican. ' children are :; , apt' tof ha*e» ; less deference for their ■parent:- as parent's* -than Eriglish children haveS In &, caso of mothers and daughters, says; iho. wfitor,this. / seems ./.very, often' •to ]ead-to : a help friend-, shipi English mothers lonp; . tosecure, buLtelrindt reacli, because they have so .little., rffljisation ;of the '-freedom ,'of- soul nccessarv- fz>r real growth.' Many English iniothers-se'effl to aim at making .their,daugh-' ters'.copies ®-, themselves—surely' a.' very , dull 'and//uninteresting ideal, :as well as a very narrow, ■ 'The , American •mother- seldom definijtely perhaps in _nursery days too - seldom, Jnit she is. roady with - sympathy ahdiadvice;,miid, as her children grow older, ,it 1 ni, perraps, .more ,■ often. sought , and talari}. bec|)iso' it is . given ' .as advic| '-' with ' due ; , rcspcct -. for the being is responsible for > - |lis;or her (Svn actions, and lriust .be free to Sibey ill's - ovm conscience/ The combination s found, 'oSo is thankful to know, in the Jmothw; the - special possession" of no 6na\(fouritryJ but belonging t<v all, who wins iaM /respect through inherent"' dig-, riity ~of who can direct without iyr^npisirigJinfluence without, - weakening,; gi\4 libertj%'ithout fear of licence. : 'Her un T sfilfistt dovqaon will everywhere call ouMlio' fesjionso of Tplial-love, and "her children rise <Jp aiid callsher blessed." !i 1 ;