9 



supersede the child's individual power of judging between right 

 and wrong, and therefore retard its development. For 

 the child morality is defined as "what I say" — sometimes 

 a sufficiently confusing definition — and one in which the child 

 grows unnaturally, as in a metaphorical glass-house, of parental 

 authority, every pane of which reflects the imperial parent's 

 image, and gives only a blurred view of the real world. All 

 very well till a pane breaks ; then the child has to begin afresh 

 to educate himself after walking out of his conservatory, and 

 finding that outside in the fresh air it is qualities like truth, 

 judgment, self-reliance, hope, love, and courage that are wanted 

 instead of the petty deceit, fear, and helplessness so suitable 

 within. The system of authority is a system of repression, not 

 of free growth. Every check to a child's free action, every 

 "Don't !" seems to me like a rough touch, sending the feelers 

 of his intellect shrinking back only to repeat the same distress- 

 ful tale — "We have failed again." 



May we not fear one of two results ? Either the capabilities, 

 losing hope and courage, will die and vanish, or reacting against 

 the too vexing chain, seize excess of that liberty of which their 

 natural share was denied, and with neither love nor respect to 

 restrain, develop a miserable disregard for all wishes outside 

 themselves. One might almost add as an axiom — Never say 

 " Don't" to a child— well, hardly ever. Clear away his original 

 ignorance first by pointing out the right path. Tell him in a 

 fair, frank, friendly, confidential way what he is expected to do, 

 then do not hurry him ; a little quiet time at first for the un- 

 practised little mind to grasp the new view, and helped on by 

 respect and affection for his teacher, he does the right because 

 he sees it is right. It will hardly be questioned that the moral 

 effect here far supersedes that of mere unreasoning obedience to 

 continual stern and uncompromising commands ; and self-reli- 

 ance and repose of manner are best cultivated in a quiet environ- 

 ment where the child has time to grow and ripen naturally 

 without friction and consequent needless loss of nerve force. 

 If, as sometimes may happen in the earlier stages, a command 

 must be given, its kindly unrelentingness will gather force from 



