THE CALL OF THE LAND 



mental and moral natures and the character 

 and work possibilities of their children. We 

 ought to expect that our children will be 

 great and worthy, far surpassing their par- 

 ents, and we ought to show them that our 

 expectations touching them are thus large. 

 Children should never be snubbed, rarely 

 be repressed. Let us not be startled or 

 offended if a child develops real originality. 

 Every child is a direct manifestation of the 

 Divine Spirit, and ought, if duly cherished, 

 to prove a revelation, a sort of miracle. 



There is a widespread belief, held by not 

 a few educators of mark, that education 

 might be carried during childhood years 

 twice or thrice as far as it usually goes even 

 in the most progressive and best schooled 

 communities, that the generality of our chil- 

 dren might possess at 10 or 12 the mental 

 growth and discipline seen in the most pre- 

 cocious children known, so that the high 

 school period instead of beginning at 12 

 might end there. 



I do not share this view in its entirety, or 

 deem the end it proposes wholly desirable, 



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