A Child Left to Himself

The young people of our day receive much attention. Their needs and their problems are much talked of. Their training, their education, and their care, account for a large part of our income. Sometimes it would seem that we have tried to make the world over for them—not that we have succeeded particularly; not that it has always been for the best good, but at least we have tried, as they will do for the generation that follows them. All this is as it should be. But out of it have come undesirable byproducts, one of which is the tendency on the part of youth itself to expect much without effort; another is an exaggerated inclination on the part of some adults to excuse youth in indifference, in misconduct, and to encourage them in unreasonable whims. There is no fixed time at which a boy becomes a man. The elements of manhood are apparent even in the very young. In reality they become accountable for their conduct very early in life, which history, scripture, and the laws of society take note of. From earlier years these children of ours show tendencies which, except for some determined contrary influence, indicate in large measure the traits of character that may later be expected. We have long accepted with a shrug of the shoulder the axiom that “boys will be boys.” Perhaps we should also remember with greater concern that boys will soon be men. There is a point at which sympathy becomes coddling, and kindness becomes indulgence, and they who are too busy or too lazy or too soft-hearted to give children the discipline they need are being unfair to everyone—most of all to children. Because some over-zealous and misguided adults have in times past abused the privilege, we may have forgotten the scriptural proverb which says: “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Important to be remembered also is the more positive injunction: “Learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.” If we would like to rear a generation of youth able to carry on toward better things, it must not be a pampered nor an idle generation, nor one that has been allowed to grow up as it pleases.