Child Rearing Essay Example

children's wills at an early age, so that it becomes natural to them and prevents any future resistance or complaints.

The text emphasizes the importance of starting early and strictly maintaining a sense of respect and awe until it becomes familiar. It highlights the necessity of establishing this reverence early on, as it would require more effort and discipline to restore it if delayed. The text suggests that once this reverence is established, it should be combined with some amount of leniency, avoiding physical punishment or servile forms of discipline. Instead, as children mature and gain more understanding, they should be governed by a combination of respect and indulgence.

Locke advocated for firm control of children without advocating for excessive admonishment or physical punishment. He believed that these forms of punishment would impede a child's ability to learn and be educated. Additionally, he asserted that educational material should be tailored to a child's social standing. Specifically, comprehensive education should be limited to the higher class of gentlemen while the poor should focus on acquiring vocational skills.

Jean – Jacques Rousseau, the writer of Emile, was a proponent of positive reinforcement and stressed the significance of liberty. He is frequently seen as a romantic figure. Rousseau's conviction in the innate goodness of humanity went against the Puritan belief that individuals are born with original sin. According to him, wickedness is not an inherent aspect of our fallen state but instead arises as society becomes more structured, departing from its natural condition. Rousseau advocated for granting young children the freedom to investigate and pursue their instinctual inclinations.

Rousseau believed in the importance of parental participation

in their children's education, whether through direct teaching or finding a qualified educator. He stressed the need for regulating and customizing the curriculum. Nowadays, we can see Rousseau's educational principles reflected in permissive parenting styles and open classroom environments. The idea of students having the freedom to choose their own subjects closely corresponds with Rousseau's philosophy.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, believed in the Christian idea of original sin. According to this belief, children are born with inherent flaws and inherit the sins committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Wesley was inspired by his mother, Susanna Wesley, who enforced strict sleeping schedules, held family prayers, prohibited snacking between meals, and used physical punishment on young children with a rod (Cleverly P. 29) (James P. 98).

Wesley disapproved of unsupervised time for children and did not allow play time or play days. He believed that every minute of the day should be filled with purpose, either through religious instruction and prayer or direct education. According to Cleverly (p. 30), Wesley's beliefs about innate child behavior have influenced works like Lord of the Flies and British schooling systems that aimed to improve the behavior of untutored boys. Wesley's principles on child rearing are evident in those who support guided spanking, strict punishment for disobedience, and a "tough love" approach to parenting (Winnik, p. 6).

The ideology is similar to parents who use drugs like Ritalin or similar substances to "manage" their children. Individuals with Attention Deficit Disorder may exhibit difficult behavior. This parenting method gives up control over the child's actions. Although strict physical punishment and medical

intervention may seem different, both aim to change a stubborn and uncontrollable child into an obedient and compliant one.

The term discipline originates from the word disciple and is described as training someone using punishment. Disciple, however, refers to a learner or pupil. It is interesting that all these philosophies were developed in relation to educational methods. Whether one follows Wesley's belief that children are naturally sinful or Rousseau's idea that children are born with a blank slate devoid of inherent qualities, the agreement remains that children can be taught to develop goodness.

The method of teaching this concept varies. Discipline encompasses training and experience that improves and shapes individuals' intellectual abilities and moral values. It also involves corrective measures, including both externally imposed punishment and self-imposed corrections. Discipline represents the authority-based control over obedience, as well as the structured and organized conduct dictated by society and its contemporary norms.