Then, what is education? I consider that education commences before a child can walk: the first principle of education, the most important, and without which all subsequent are but as leather and prunella, is the lesson of obedience—of submitting to parental control—“Honour thy father and thy mother!”
Now, any one who has been in the United States must have perceived that there is little or no parental control. This has been remarked by most of the writers who have visited the country; indeed to an Englishman it is a most remarkable feature. How is it possible for a child to be brought up in the way that it should go, when he is not obedient to the will of his parents? I have often fallen into a melancholy sort of musing after witnessing such remarkable specimens of uncontrolled will in children; and as the father and mother both smiled at it, I have thought that they little knew what sorrow and vexation were probably in store for them, in consequence of their own injudicious treatment of their offspring. Imagine a child of three years old in England behaving thus:—
“Johnny, my dear, come here,” says his mamma.
“I won’t,” cries Johnny.
“You must, my love, you are all wet, and you’ll catch cold.”
“I won’t,” replies Johnny.
“Come, my sweet, and I’ve something for you.”
“I won’t.”
“Oh! Mr —, do, pray make Johnny come in.”
“Come in, Johnny,” says the father.