The Matter of Punishment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 6, 1906

The Matter of Punishment

CHILDREN are quick to detect injustice, and soon take advantage of the weakness of the parent who indulges them irrespective of their behavior. They will obey, through fear, the oversevere parent only until their fear has been outgrown, then cast to the winds his advice. The flight of years, however, will only enhance their admiration for that parent who can inflict just punishment when needed, as well as overlook slight faults, and who is quicker to see the good deed than the evil.

Much of a mother’s police duty could be avoided if she would provide legitimate work for each child, a lawful playroom in which each should have his separate shelf or box, and foster among them the spirit of honor. To develop this, and a sense of responsibility for the welfare of the home, mothers should early train each child to work about the house. Manual labor and skill in all its branches ought to be glorified, not despised. Children naturally love to work. It is our own fault if our sons and daughters grow up prouder of idleness and white, soft hands than of honest labor. Let the children sweep and dust, and feed the chickens, and tinker at the hen-coops. Teach them to sew on buttons and do simple cooking.—Selected.