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Show 3 the giant oak in the tiny acorn. Surely he is destined to live in the past and future as well as the present. His earthly being implies a past heaven, his birth makes a present heaven, in his soul he holds a future heaven. Let him see in one the symbol of the other, and as he traces light and color to their source in the sun, may he learn to trace the beauty and mean ing of his life to their source in God. Napoeon said what France needed was I say what every more mothers. country needs is more mothers and lathers. If, as some people seem to think, the development of the whole human family devolves upon the women so completely, would it not be wise to oftener recognize their influence as members of educational boards? When we are fully awake to the blessings which would follow the saving of children, will we not see that each law that goes upon the statute books will have for its end the safety and happiness of our young people ? Will we not cast our ballot with an eye to purity? If we would, the righteousness that exalteth a nation would shine resplendent in city and national government. Would that the time were not coming, but here when men will be held accountable for selling cigarettes to our growing boys, as well as liquors a time when we are strong enough to enforce laws abolishing seductive death traps now standing so invitingly open. I did not intend to speak of these things, but I cannot leave it without one question for us to consider : It is not how far are we, as a nation, responsible for the present condition of things, but how far are we as individuals responsible ? It is painful to relate, though nevertheless true, that the average mother is but indifferently equipped with knowledge for the training of children. Such skill as she possesses in this direction is her natural intuition, and not the result of intelligent investigation. She has been taught the dead languages, the higher mathematics, art and science and this is well but where does she ever receive an hour's instruction on the responsibilities of motherhood? Is she always THE REVIEW. even impressed with the dignity of motherhood ? Perhaps when wef as a people, realize that the greatest work is to save the children, and this will be accomplished when our hearts are awakened to. all the needs of childhood, this department of education will not be neglected, it will form a class part, at least, of every senior curriculum. The mother, whose reply, when asked if she brought her children up the by rule, was Yes; by just one s golden rule, understood her child nature far better than many of us practice. We are too apt to ignore the rights of children. How many mothers struggle to follow the scriptural injunction, viz.: To train up a child in the way he should go, and have all such influence counteracted by some boy whose parents shirk a similar responsibility by admitting that boys will be boys, and they must sow their wild oats, etc. It is a duty we owe to our children and to society, that we should strive to make them so that other people can love them. Froebel says : Can you tell, 0 mother, where the spiritual development of your child begins? Can you trace the boundary line which separates the conscious from the unconscious soul? It will not do to let our children grow wild the first years (or formative years) of their lives and expect that all will be well bye and bye. A mother who asked, When shall I begin to train my four-year-o- ld boy? was wisely answered, you are already four years too late. Many people understand childg as interteaching and changeable terms, such is not exactly the case, teaching is causing him to know, training is causing him to do. child-trainin- Training consists in shaping, developing, controlling his personal faculties, and powers, teaching is the art of instruction in knowledge apart from himself. Teaching acquaints him with outward facts, training directs his own powers, this can be begun at birth, but teaching must come later, a child can be trained not to cry for what he wants by anticipating his necessities and ministering to them be fore he feels their need himself. Some- one has said that nature never rhymes her children or makes two men alike, and surely there can never be any- thing but general principles applied with loving care. In reference to the three-fol- d development there can be no balanced development, unless the thought, feeling and will, are equally appealed to; his mental, moral and physical nature should command equal attention; the highly intellectual young man or woman with poorly developed physique is often due to carelessness on the part of parents and teachers. They must be built up along all lines to be able to combat with life and this building requires time, not only must their receptive faculties but their reflective faculties be educated. They should be able to give out what they take in, otherwise they are not fitted for citizenship in its truest sense. We often see interesting young people whom we know have had many scholastic advantages, and this is due to the cramming process, with no time to make what they study a part of themselves. They have not been aroused to the beautiful principle of giving and taking. We should really go through life with one hand up and the other down; reaching up for help, reaching down to help. All children should be taught that they control their own destiny to a very great degree, and that in diving if they find no pearls the fault is not in the sea. Self reliance is as necessary to the successful life as food is to the physical. I have known parents to help their children so much in various ways that no room was allowed the children for creative activity, both mental and physical energies are often suppressed in this way. The excuse often is given that children make so many failures in their attempts to do a thing that it is less trouble to teach them the correct way at once, and this is true, but often at the expense of perseverance. I believe it was Confucius who said Our greatest glory is not in never falling but on rising every time that we fall. Children must do, give them the right things and they are happy as |