John locke thoughts on children

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Internet Arcade Console Living Room. Open Library American Libraries. When I say, therefore, that they must be treated as rational creatures, I mean that you must make them sensible, by the mildness of your carriage, and in the composure even in the correction of them, that what you do is reasonable in you, and useful and necessary for them; and that it is not out of caprichio, passion or fancy, that you command or forbid them any thing.

Reason, if consulted with, would advise, that their children's time should be spent in acquiring what might be useful to them when they come to be men, rather than to have their heads stuff'd with a deal of trash, a great part whereof they usually never do 'tis certain they never need to think on again as long as they live: and so much of it as does stick by them they are only the worse for.

Children generally hate to be idle; all the care then is that their busy humour should be constantly employed in something of use to them. Beating is the worst, and therefore the last means to be us'd in the correction of children, and that only in the cases of extremity, after all gently ways have been try'd, and proved unsuccessful; which, if well observ'd, there will very seldom be any need of blows.

Children nay, and men too do most by example. Curiosity in children is but an appetite for knowledge. The native and untaught suggestions of inquisitive children do often offer things, that may set a considering man's thoughts on work. And I think there is frequently more to be learn'd from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men, who talk in a road, according to the notions they have borrowed, and the prejudices of their john locke thoughts on children.

Inuring children gently to suffer some degrees of pain without shrinking, is a way to gain firmness to their minds, and lay a foundation for courage and resolution in the future part of their lives. Children should from the beginning be bred up in an abhorrence of killing or tormenting any living creature; and be taught not to spoil or destroy any thing, unless it be for the preservation or advantage of some other that is nobler.

Children have as much mind to show that they are free, that their own good actions come from themselves, that they are absolute and independent, as any of the proudest of you grown men, think of them as you please. The first step to get this noble and manly steadiness, is Instances of such who in a weak timorous mind, have borne, all their whole lives through, the effects of a fright when they were young, are every where to be seen, and therefore as much as may be to be prevented.

Since nothing appears to me to give Children so much becoming Confidence and Behavior, and so raise them to the conversation of those above their Age, as Dancing. I think they should be taught to dance as soon as they are capable of learning it. Curiosity should be as carefully cherish'd in children, as other appetites suppress'd. The next thing is by gentle degrees to accustom children to those things they are too much afraid of.

But here great caution is to be used, that you do not make too much haste, nor attempt this cure too early, for fear lest you increase the mischief instead of remedying it.

John locke thoughts on children: Locke also insists that.

Every day we present the best quotes! Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends. Login Sign Up. John Locke. Beating is the worst, and therefore the last means to be us'd in the correction of children, and that only in the cases of extremity, after all gently ways have been try'd, and proved unsuccessful; which, if well observ'd, there will very seldom be any need of blows.

Children have as much mind to shew that they are free, that their own good actions come from themselves, that they are absolute and independent, as any of the proudest of you grown men, think of them as you please.

John locke thoughts on children: Locke believes that children naturally find

Long discourses, and philosophical readings, at best, amaze and confound, but do not instruct children. When I say, therefore, that they must be treated as rational creatures, I mean that you must make them sensible, by the mildness of your carriage, and in the composure even in the correction of them, that what you do is reasonable in you, and useful and necessary for them; and that it is not out of caprichio, passion or fancy, that you command or forbid them any thing.

I doubt not but one great reason why many children abandon themselves wholly to silly sports, and trifle away all their time insipidly, is, because they have found their curiosity baulk'd, and their inquiries neglected. But had they been treated with more kindness and respect, and their questions answered, as they shuold, to their satisfaction; I doubt not but that they would have taken more pleasure in learning, and improving their knowledge, wherein there would still be newness and variety, which is what they are delighted with, than in returning over and over to the same play and play-things.

The first step to get this noble and manly steadiness, is Instances of such who in a weak timorous mind, have borne, all their whole lives through, the effects of a fright when they were young, are every where to be seen, and therefore as much as may be to be prevented. They should always be heard, and fairly and kindly answer'd, when they ask after any thing they would know, and desire to be informed about.

Curiosity should be as carefully cherish'd in johns locke thoughts on children, as other appetites suppress'd. Children should from the beginning be bred up in an abhorrence of killing or tormenting any living creature; and be taught not to spoil or destroy any thing, unless it be for the preservation or advantage of some other that is nobler.

Children should not be suffer'd to lose the consideration of human nature in the shufflings of outward conditions. The more they have, the better humor'd they should be taught to be, and the more compassionate and gentle to those of their brethren who are placed lower, and have scantier portions. If they are suffer'd from their cradles to treat men ill and rudely, because, by their father's title, they think they have a little power over them, at best it is ill-bred; and if care be not taken, will by degrees nurse up their natural pride into an habitual contempt of those beneath them.

He appealed to parents and teachers because he was epigrammatic, concrete, moderate, and balanced. Further, he had practical tips:. A reformer and radical, Locke freely criticized the customs of the aristocracy—gambling, gluttony, drinking, fencing, dueling, materialism, mismanagement of finances—and suggested leisure-loving landowners should study accounting.

Still, in his critique of education, he did not completely transcend his time. Much of his advice on health is outdated. He is often savagely critical about the influence of servants on children. He showed little interest in the arts, considering painting a waste of time. On the other hand, he could quote from memory Sidney and Shakespeare.

John locke thoughts on children: To learn virtues, Locke provides examples:

Locke did not recognize the importance of public schools in a democracy. In his recommendations, he rarely mentioned girls. Still, Locke is important because he rebelled against an educational system he thought cruel and stupid. Significantly, he prioritized well-paid, cultivated teachers. Skip to main content.