Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

Published April, 1911

Printed in the United States of America

THE

TRAINING OF CHILDREN

IN RELIGION

CHAPTER I

THE SECURING OF INDEPENDENT

I

GOODNESS

HAVE in mind the religious education of children up to the

age of fifteen years. After that, whether with or without the admonition of their elders, they will educate themselves.

My purpose is to bring to the assistance of fathers and mothers and teachers such suggestions, out of experience and books, as may enable them with a clear mind and a fair result to perform their responsible duty. That duty, as they know well enough,

Even

is only begun when they maintain their children in sound health of body, and is only carried a little further when they make them learn their lessons at school. good behavior is not the end of their proper achievement. Their purpose as to morals is insufficiently accomplished when they secure respect and order and obedience.

For moral behavior may be a matter of dependence or of independence. The virtues may be imposed on children by superior strength of will, or by an efficient system of reward and punishment. Children may be good because they have no chance to be bad. The conditions under which they are brought up may provide them with shelter and protection and continual watchfulness. They may live in the unfailing presence of parents or nurses or teachers. They may not know a moment in which they are left to their own free devices. Their choices may be determined for them. The goodness of children, under circumstances such

« FöregåendeFortsätt »