The Punishment of Children E-Book

Felix Adler

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

In "The Punishment of Children," Felix Adler offers a profound exploration into the ethical implications and psychological ramifications of child discipline in a rapidly changing society. Through a blend of philosophical inquiry and sociological analysis, Adler critiques traditional punitive measures, advocating instead for a more empathetic and understanding approach to child-rearing. His literary style is both reflective and persuasive, drawing from contemporary educational theories and his keen observations of social morality to challenge the conventions of his time, effectively situating the discourse within the late 19th-century debates on parental authority and child welfare. Felix Adler, a prominent philosopher and educator, founded the Society for Ethical Culture in 1876, signaling his commitment to social reform and the betterment of human relationships. His progressive ideals are deeply rooted in the broader intellectual movement of his era, which sought to reconcile individual rights with societal obligations. Adler's own experiences and aspirations as an educator and social critic informed his writing, allowing him to approach the subject with both authority and compassion, as he keenly recognized the complexities of familial dynamics and moral education. This thought-provoking work is essential for educators, parents, and anyone engaged in issues of child development and ethics. Adler's insights challenge readers to reflect critically on their approaches to discipline and to consider the long-lasting effects of their choices on children's moral and emotional growth. "The Punishment of Children" is not merely a book about discipline; it is a call to foster a more humane and understanding society.

Leseprobe

Felix Adler

The Punishment of Children

Published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4064066182342

Table of Contents

I

1. Never Administer Punishment in Anger

2. Distinguish Between the Child and the Fault

3. Do Not Lecture Children

4. Undeviating Consistency

5. Physical Pleasure as a Reward of Virtue

II

1. Corporal Punishment

2. The Evil of the Mark System

3. " Natural Penalties "

III

1. Obstinacy

2. Untruthfulness

3. Laziness

4. Discovering Causes

THE AMERICAN HOME SERIES

I

Table of Contents

It is man's moral duty to act as the physician of his enemies and seek to cure them of their wrongdoing. How much more, then, should this attitude be taken toward those whom we love—toward our children, if we find their characters marred by serious faults?

In discussing the subject of punishment I do not for a moment think of covering the innumerable problems which it suggests. Many books have been written on this subject; prolonged study and the experience of a lifetime are barely sufficient for a mastery of its details. I shall content myself with suggesting a few simple rules and principles, and shall consider my object gained if I induce my hearers to enter upon a closer investigation of the delicate and manifold questions involved.

1. Never Administer Punishment in Anger

Table of Contents

The first general rule to which I would refer is, never administer punishment in anger. A saying of Socrates deserves to be carefully borne in mind. Turning one day upon his insolent servant, Speucippus, who had subjected him to great annoyance, he exclaimed, "I should beat you now, sirrah, were I not so angry with you." The practice of most men is the very opposite; they beat and punish because they are angry.

But it is clear that we cannot trust ourselves to correct another while we are enraged. The intensity of our anger is proportional to the degree of annoyance which we have experienced, but it happens quite frequently that a great annoyance may be caused by a slight fault, just as, conversely, the greatest fault may cause us only slight annoyance, or may even contribute to our pleasure. We should administer serious punishment where the fault is serious, and slight punishment where the fault is slight. But, as I have just said, a slight fault may sometimes cause serious annoyance, just as a slight spark thrown into a powder magazine may cause a destructive explosion. And we do often resemble a powder magazine, being filled with suppressed inflammable irritations, so that a trivial naughtiness on the part of a child may cause a most absurd display of temper.

But is it the child's fault that we are in this irascible condition? To show how a slight fault may sometimes cause a most serious annoyance, let me remind you of the story of Vedius Pollio, the Roman. He was one day entertaining the Emperor Augustus at dinner. During the banquet a slave who was carrying one of the crystal goblets by which his master set great store, in his nervousness suffered the goblet to fall from his hand so that it broke into a thousand pieces on the floor. Pollio was so infuriated that he ordered the slave to be bound and thrown into a neighboring fishpond, to be devoured by the lampreys. The Emperor interfered to save the slave's life, but Pollio was too much enraged to defer even to the Emperor's wish. Thereupon Augustus ordered that every crystal goblet in the house should be broken in his presence, that the slave should be set free, and that the obnoxious fishpond should be closed.