p. 211 | Untitled article by Joseph Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 17, 1867

REWARDS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

By Joseph Clarke

Some contend strongly against bestowing merits and rewards upon the young, as an incentive to industry, or application to study.

I have no doubt but that rewards may be injudiciously bestowed; but I am just as confident, that a system of rewards in schools, or families, when properly managed, may become a very great help, both in respect to discipline, and as an aid to the teacher in inducing his pupils to habits of application.

As to the principle, we have high authority in the example of our Heavenly Father, who rewards those who seek him. He does not put off the suppliant wholly to the final day of rewards, but gives him the earnest of his Spirit to encourage him on in the narrow way. Without this reward, so often and generously bestowed, how utterly discouraged would the pilgrim often become as he treads the rough pathway of life; but with it, he becomes strong, so that he could and often does walk by faith alone; but then tokens of God's love had previously strengthened him for the hour of darkness.

The child often treads what is to him a rough and thorny path; the kind words of parents and teachers encourage his youthful mind, but often the stimulus to exertion is lacking. True he is told of the rewards of diligence which he will reap in mature life; but that is too distant, and besides he does not know that he will live to realize those rewards.

Often, very often, the child tires of the long, tedious columns of awkwardly-formed words; and does he not discover the absurdity of using e hard, when k would answer the same purpose; and e soft when s would do just as well? And is not the spelling-book often an Egyptian bondage to him, for full four or five years of his tender childhood? And shall he not have a little merit for every perfect lesson, and a larger premium for every hundred perfect lessons, or for every sixty lessons? And is not a pretty deportment-merit for every day of good behavior a nice thing? and a punctual-merit for coming to school in season, is not this nice? Especially when Mr. John Atwater, Box 4024, Chicago, Ill., furnishes a whole set, sufficient for a school of thirty pupils, a whole term, for one dollar and fifty cents?

I am no agent for our Quaker friend, Mr. Atwater; but I would recommend teachers and parents in want of such a help to get Mr. Atwater's “School Government,” of the same address. It saves talking and urging. It saves discipline and much anxiety of mind.

JOSEPH CLARKE.

Portage, Wood Co., Ohio.