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Editorial
October 2, 1829
Virginia Advocate
Charlottesville, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial emphasizing the importance of early childhood education through parental example and circumstances from infancy, arguing that initial influences indelibly shape character and habits, potentially leading to lifelong traits if mishandled.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN EARLY
What is the object of education ? To form the character. How is this to be done ? Not by lessons, but principally through the influence of example, and circumstances, and situation. How soon is the child exposed to these influences? From the moment it opens its eyes and feels the pressure of its mother's bosom—from the hour that it becomes capable of noticing what passes around it, and knowing the difference of one thing from another. So powerful are the gradual and unnoticed influences of these early months, that the infant, if indulged or humored, may grow into a petty tyrant at ten months old; and waddle about in two years a selfish, discontented, irritable thing, that every one but the mother turns from with disgust. During this period every human being is making his first observations, and acquiring his first experience; passes his early judgments, forms opinions, acquires habits They may be ingrained into the character for life. Some right and some wrong notions may take with firm hold, and some impressions, good or bad, may sink so deep as to be with scarcely any force eradicated. There is no doubt that many of these incurable crookednesses of disposition which we attribute to nature, would be found if they could be traced, to have originated in the early circumstances of life; just as a deformed or stunted tree not from any natural perversity of seed from which it sprung, but from the circumstances of the soil and situation under which it grew.
[Journal of Education.]
What is the object of education ? To form the character. How is this to be done ? Not by lessons, but principally through the influence of example, and circumstances, and situation. How soon is the child exposed to these influences? From the moment it opens its eyes and feels the pressure of its mother's bosom—from the hour that it becomes capable of noticing what passes around it, and knowing the difference of one thing from another. So powerful are the gradual and unnoticed influences of these early months, that the infant, if indulged or humored, may grow into a petty tyrant at ten months old; and waddle about in two years a selfish, discontented, irritable thing, that every one but the mother turns from with disgust. During this period every human being is making his first observations, and acquiring his first experience; passes his early judgments, forms opinions, acquires habits They may be ingrained into the character for life. Some right and some wrong notions may take with firm hold, and some impressions, good or bad, may sink so deep as to be with scarcely any force eradicated. There is no doubt that many of these incurable crookednesses of disposition which we attribute to nature, would be found if they could be traced, to have originated in the early circumstances of life; just as a deformed or stunted tree not from any natural perversity of seed from which it sprung, but from the circumstances of the soil and situation under which it grew.
[Journal of Education.]
What sub-type of article is it?
Education
What keywords are associated?
Early Education
Child Character
Parental Influence
Infant Habits
Moral Development
What entities or persons were involved?
Mother
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Importance Of Early Education Through Example And Circumstances
Stance / Tone
Advocacy For Early Parental Influence On Child Character
Key Figures
Mother
Key Arguments
Object Of Education Is To Form Character
Character Formed Principally Through Example, Circumstances, And Situation, Not Lessons
Child Exposed To Influences From Birth
Early Indulgence Can Create Negative Traits Like Selfishness And Irritability
First Observations And Habits In Infancy Become Ingrained For Life
Many Disposition Flaws Attributed To Nature Originate From Early Life Circumstances