ParentsandChildrenTrailingCloudsofGloryTheChildisFathertotheManWhatisaChild?
TheSinofNadabandAbihuTheManufactureofMonstersSmallandLargeFamiliesChildrenasNuisancesChildFanciersChildhoodasaStateofSinSchoolMyScholasticAcquirementsSchoolmastersofGeniusWhatWeDoNotTeach，andWhyTabooinSchoolsAllegedNoveltiesinModernSchoolsWhatistobeDone?
Children\'sRightsandDutiesShouldChildrenEarntheirLiving?
Children\'sHappinessTheHorrorofthePerpetualHolidayUniversitySchoolboyishnessTheNewLazinessTheInfiniteSchoolTaskTheRewardsandRisksofKnowledgeEnglishPhysicalHardihoodandSpiritualCowardiceTheRisksofIgnoranceandWeaknessTheCommonSenseofTolerationTheSinofAthanasiusTheExperimentExperimentingWhyWeLoatheLearningandLoveSportAntichristUndertheWhipTechnicalInstructionDocilityandDependenceTheAbuseofDocilityTheSchoolboyandtheHomeboyTheComingsofAgeofChildrenTheConflictofWillsTheDemagogue\'sOpportunityOurQuarrelsomenessWeMustReformSocietybeforewecanReformOurselvesThePursuitofMannersNottoomuchWindontheHeath，BrotherWanted:aChild\'sMagnaChartaThePursuitofLearningChildrenandGame:aProposalTheParents\'IntolerableBurdenMobilizationChildren\'sRightsandParents\'WrongsHowLittleWeKnowAboutOurParentsOurAbandonedMothersFamilyAffectionTheFateoftheFamilyFamilyMourningArtTeachingTheImpossibilityofSecularEducationNaturalSelectionasaReligionMoralInstructionLeaguesTheBibleArtistIdolatry\"TheMachine\"
TheProvocationtoAnarchismImaginationGovernmentbyBulliesPARENTSANDCHILDREN
TrailingCloudsofGloryChildhoodisastageintheprocessofthatcontinualremanufactureoftheLifeStuffbywhichthehumanraceisperpetuated。TheLifeForceeitherwillnotorcannotachieveimmortalityexceptinveryloworganisms:indeeditisbynomeansascertainedthateventheamoebaisimmortal。Humanbeingsvisiblywearout，thoughtheylastlongerthantheirfriendsthedogs。Turtles，parrots，andelephantsarebelievedtobecapableofoutlivingthememoryoftheoldesthumaninhabitant。Butthefactthatnewonesarebornconclusivelyprovesthattheyarenotimmortal。Doawaywithdeathandyoudoawaywiththeneedforbirth:infactifyouwentonbreeding，youwouldfinallyhavetokilloldpeopletomakeroomforyoungones。
NowdeathisnotnecessarilyafailureofenergyonthepartoftheLifeForce。Peoplewithnoimaginationtrytomakethingswhichwilllastforever，andevenwanttoliveforeverthemselves。Buttheintelligentlyimaginativemanknowsverywellthatitiswasteoflabortomakeamachinethatwilllasttenyears，becauseitwillprobablybesupersededinhalfthattimebyanimprovedmachineansweringthesamepurpose。Healsoknowsthatifsomedevilweretoconvinceusthatourdreamofpersonalimmortalityisnodreambutahardfact，suchashriekofdespairwouldgoupfromthehumanraceasnootherconceivablehorrorcouldprovoke。WithallourperversenonsenseastoJohnSmithlivingforathousandmillioneonsandforeverafter，wedievoluntarily，knowingthatitistimeforustobescrapped，toberemanufactured，tocomeback，asWordsworthdivined，trailingeverbrighteningcloudsofglory。Wemustallbebornagain，andyetagainandagain。Weshouldliketolivealittlelongerjustasweshouldlike50pounds:thatis，weshouldtakeitifwecouldgetitfornothing；butthatsortofidlelikingisnotwill。Itisamazing——consideringthewaywetalk——howlittleamanwilldotoget50pounds:allthe50-poundnotesIhaveeverknownofhavebeenmoreeasilyearnedthanalaborioussixpence；butthedifficultyofinducingamantomakeanyseriousefforttoobtain50poundsisnothingtothedifficultyofinducinghimtomakeaseriousefforttokeepalive。Themomentheseesdeathapproach，hegetsintobedandsendsforadoctor。Heknowsverywellatthebackofhisconsciencethatheisratherapoorjobandhadbetterberemanufactured。Heknowsthathisdeathwillmakeroomforabirth；andhehopesthatitwillbeabirthofsomethingthatheaspiredtobeandfellshortof。
Heknowsthatitisthroughdeathandrebirththatthiscorruptibleshallbecomeincorruptible，andthismortalputonimmortality。
Practiseasyouwillonhisignorance，hisfears，andhisimagination，withbribesofparadisesandthreatsofhells，thereisonlyonebeliefthatcanrobdeathofitsstingandthegraveofitsvictory；
andthatisthebeliefthatwecanlaydowntheburdenofourwretchedlittlemakeshiftindividualitiesforeverateachlifttowardsthegoalofevolution，whichcanonlybeabeingthatcannotbeimprovedupon。Afterall，whatmaniscapableoftheinsaneself-conceitofbelievingthataneternityofhimselfwouldbetolerableeventohimself?Thosewhotrytobelieveitpostulatethattheyshallbemadeperfectfirst。ButifyoumakemeperfectIshallnolongerbemyself，norwillitbepossibleformetoconceivemypresentimperfections(andwhatIcannotconceiveIcannotremember)；sothatyoumayjustaswellgivemeanewnameandfacethefactthatIamanewpersonandthattheoldBernardShawisasdeadasmutton。Thus，oddlyenough，theconventionalbeliefinthemattercomestothis:
thatifyouwishtoliveforeveryoumustbewickedenoughtobeirretrievablydamned，sincethesavedarenolongerwhattheywere，andinhellalonedopeopleretaintheirsinfulnature:thatistosay，theirindividuality。Andthissortofhell，howeverconvenientasameansofintimidatingpersonswhohavepracticallynohonorandnoconscience，isnotafact。Deathisformanyofusthegateofhell；butweareinsideonthewayout，notoutsideonthewayin。
Thereforeletusgiveuptellingoneanotheridlestories，andrejoiceindeathaswerejoiceinbirth；forwithoutdeathwecannotbebornagain；andthemanwhodoesnotwishtobebornagainandbornbetterisfitonlytorepresenttheCityofLondoninParliament，orperhapstheuniversityofOxford。
TheChildisFathertotheManIshe?Theninthenameofcommonsensewhydowealwaystreatchildrenontheassumptionthatthemanisfathertothechild?Oh，thesefathers!Andwearenotcontentwithfathers:wemusthavegodfathers，forgettingthatthechildisgodfathertotheman。Hasiteverstruckyouascuriousthatinacountrywherethefirstarticleofbeliefisthateverychildisbornwithagodfatherwhomweallcall\"ourfatherwhichartinheaven，\"twoverylimitedindividualmortalsshouldbeallowedtoappearatitsbaptismandexplainthattheyareitsgodparents，andthattheywilllookafteritssalvationuntilitisnolongerachild。Ihadagodmotherwhomadeherselfresponsibleinthiswayforme。ShepresentedmewithaBiblewithagiltclaspandedges，largerthantheBiblessimilarlypresentedtomysisters，becausemysexentitledmetoaheavierarticle。Imusthaveseenthatladyatleastfourtimesinthetwentyyearsfollowing。Sheneveralludedtomysalvationinanyway。PeopleoccasionallyaskmetoactasgodfathertotheirchildrenwithalevitywhichconvincesmethattheyhavenotthefaintestnotionthatitinvolvesanythingmorethancallingthehelplesschildGeorgeBernardwithoutregardtothepossibilitythatitmaygrowupintheliveliestabhorrenceofmynotions。
ApersonwithaturnforlogicmightarguethatifGodistheFatherofallmen，andifthechildisfathertotheman，itfollowsthatthetruerepresentativeofGodatthechristeningisthechilditself。
Butsuchposersareunpopular，becausetheyimplythatourlittlecustoms，or，asweoftencallthem，ourreligion，meansomething，ormustoriginallyhavemeantsomething，andthatweunderstandandbelievethatsomething。
However，mybusinessisnottomakeconfusionworseconfounded，buttoclearitup。Only，itisaswelltobeginbyasampleofcurrentthoughtandpracticewhichshewsthatonthesubjectofchildrenweareverydeeplyconfused。Onthewhole，whateverourtheoryornotheorymaybe，ourpracticeistotreatthechildasthepropertyofitsimmediatephysicalparents，andtoallowthemtodowhattheylikewithitasfarasitwillletthem。Ithasnorightsandnoliberties:inshort，itsconditionisthatwhichadultsrecognizeasthemostmiserableanddangerouspoliticallypossibleforthemselves:
namely，theconditionofslavery。Foritsalleviationwetrusttothenaturalaffectionoftheparties，andtopublicopinion。Afathercannotforhisowncreditlethissongoinrags。Also，inaverylargesectionofthepopulation，parentsfinallybecomedependentontheirchildren。Thustherearechecksonchildslaverywhichdonotexist，orarelesspowerful，inthecaseofmanualandindustrialslavery。Sensationallybadcasesfallintotwoclasses，whicharereallythesameclass:namely，thechildrenwhoseparentsareexcessivelyaddictedtothesensualluxuryofpettingchildren，andthechildrenwhoseparentsareexcessivelyaddictedtothesensualluxuryofphysicallytorturingthem。ThereisaSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoChildrenwhichhaseffectuallymadeanendofourbeliefthatmothersareanymoretobetrustedthanstepmothers，orfathersthanslave-drivers。Andthereisagrowingbodyoflawdesignedtopreventparentsfromusingtheirchildrenruthlesslytomakemoneyforthehousehold。Suchlegislationhasalwaysbeenfuriouslyresistedbytheparents，evenwhenthehorrorsoffactoryslaverywereattheirworst；andtheextensionofsuchlegislationatpresentwouldbeimpossibleifitwerenotthattheparentsaffectedbyitcannotcontrolamajorityofvotesinParliament。Indomesticlifeagreatdealofserviceisdonebychildren，thegirlsactingasnursemaidsandgeneralservants，andtheladsaserrandboys。Inthecountrybothboysandgirlsdoasubstantialshareoffarmlabor。
Thisiswhyitisnecessarytocoercepoorparentstosendtheirchildrentoschool，thoughintherelativelysmallclasswhichkeepsplentyofservantsitisimpossibletoinduceparentstokeeptheirchildrenathomeinsteadofpayingschoolmasterstotakethemofftheirhands。
Itappearsthenthatthebondofaffectionbetweenparentsandchildrendoesnotsavechildrenfromtheslaverythatdenialofrightsinvolvesinadultpoliticalrelations。Itsometimesintensifiesit，sometimesmitigatesit；butonthewholechildrenandparentsconfrontoneanotherastwoclassesinwhichallthepoliticalpowerisononeside；andtheresultsarenotatallunlikewhattheywouldbeiftherewerenoimmediateconsanguinitybetweenthem，andonewerewhiteandtheotherblack，oroneenfranchisedandtheotherdisenfranchised，oronerankedasgentleandtheothersimple。NotthatNaturecountsfornothinginthecaseandpoliticalrightsforeverything。Butadenialofpoliticalrights，andtheresultantdeliveryofoneclassintothemasteryofanother，affectstheirrelationssoextensivelyandprofoundlythatitisimpossibletoascertainwhattherealnaturalrelationsofthetwoclassesareuntilthispoliticalrelationisabolished。
WhatisaChild?
Anexperiment。Afreshattempttoproducethejustmanmadeperfect:
thatis，tomakehumanitydivine。Andyouwillvitiatetheexperimentifyoumaketheslightestattempttoabortitintosomefancyfigureofyourown:forexample，yournotionofagoodmanorawomanlywoman。Ifyoutreatitasalittlewildbeasttobetamed，orasapettobeplayedwith，orevenasameanstosaveyoutroubleandtomakemoneyforyou(andtheseareourcommonestways)，itmayfightitswaythroughinspiteofyouandsaveitssoulalive；forallitsinstinctswillresistyou，andpossiblybestrengthenedintheresistance；butifyoubeginwithitsownholiestaspirations，andsubornthemforyourownpurposes，thenthereishardlyanylimittothemischiefyoumaydo。Swearatachild，throwyourbootsatit，senditflyingfromtheroomwithacufforakick；andtheexperiencewillbeasinstructivetothechildasadifficultywithashort-tempereddogorabull。FrancisPlacetellsusthathisfatheralwaysstruckhischildrenwhenhefoundonewithinhisreach。TheeffectontheyoungPlacesseemstohavebeensimplytomakethemkeepoutoftheirfather\'sway，whichwasnodoubtwhathedesired，asfarashedesiredanythingatall。Francisrecordsthehabitwithoutbitterness，havingreasontothankhisstarsthathisfatherrespectedtheinsideofhisheadwhilstcuffingtheoutsideofit；andthismadeiteasyforFrancistodoyeoman\'sservicetohiscountryasthatrareandadmirablething，aFreethinker:theonlysortofthinker，Imayremark，whosethoughts，andconsequentlywhosereligiousconvictions，commandanyrespect。
NowMrPlace，senior，wouldbedescribedbymanyasabadfather；andIdonotcontendthathewasaconspicuouslygoodone。Butascomparedwiththeconventionalgoodfatherwhodeliberatelyimposeshimselfonhissonasagod；whotakesadvantageofchildishcredulityandparentworshiptopersuadehissonthatwhatheapprovesofisrightandwhathedisapprovesofiswrong；whoimposesacorrespondingconductonthechildbyasystemofprohibitionsandpenalties，rewardsandeulogies，forwhichheclaimsdivinesanction:comparedtothissortofabortionistandmonstermaker，Isay，PlaceappearsalmostasaProvidence。Notthatitispossibletolivewithchildrenanymorethanwithgrown-uppeoplewithoutimposingrulesofconductonthem。Thereisapointatwhicheverypersonwithhumannerveshastosaytoachild\"Stopthatnoise。\"Butsupposethechildaskswhy!
Therearevariousanswersinuse。Thesimplest:\"Becauseitirritatesme，\"mayfail；foritmaystrikethechildasbeingratheramusingtoirritateyou；alsothechild，havingcomparativelynonerves，maybeunabletoconceiveyourmeaningvividlyenough。Inanycaseitmaywanttomakeanoisemorethantospareyourfeelings。
Youmaythereforehavetoexplainthattheeffectoftheirritationwillbethatyouwilldosomethingunpleasantifthenoisecontinues。
Thesomethingunpleasantmaybeonlyalookofsufferingtorousethechild\'saffectionatesympathy(ifithasany)，oritmayruntoforcibleexpulsionfromtheroomwithplentyofunnecessaryviolence；
buttheprincipleisthesame:therearenofalsepretencesinvolved:
thechildlearnsinastraightforwardwaythatitdoesnotpaytobeinconsiderate。Also，perhaps，thatMamma，whomadethechildlearntheSermonontheMount，isnotreallyaChristian。
TheSinofNadabandAbihuButthereisanothersortofanswerinwideusewhichisneitherstraightforward，instructive，norharmless。Initssimplestformitsubstitutesfor\"Stopthatnoise，\"\"Dontbenaughty，\"whichmeansthatthechild，insteadofannoyingyoubyaperfectlyhealthyandnaturalinfantileprocedure，isoffendingGod。Thisisablasphemouslie；andthefactthatitisonthelipsofeverynurserymaiddoesnotexcuseitintheleast。Dickenstellsusofanurserymaidwhoelaborateditinto\"Ifyoudothat，angelswontneverloveyou。\"IrememberaservantwhousedtotellmethatifIwerenotgood，bywhichshemeantifIdidnotbehavewithasingleeyetoherpersonalconvenience，thecockwouldcomedownthechimney。LessimaginativebutequallydishonestpeopletoldmeIshouldgotohellifIdidnotmakemyselfagreeabletothem。Bodilyviolence，provideditbethehastyexpressionofnormalprovokedresentmentandnotviciouscruelty，cannotharmachildasthissortofpiousfraudharmsit。
Thereisalegallimittophysicalcruelty；andtherearealsohumanlimitstoit。ThereisanactiveSocietywhichbringstobookagoodmanyparentswhostarveandtortureandoverworktheirchildren，andintimidatesagoodmanymore。Whenparentsofthistypearecaught，theyaretreatedascriminals；andnotinfrequentlythepolicehavesometroubletosavethemfrombeinglynched。Thepeopleagainstwhomchildrenarewhollyunprotectedarethosewhodevotethemselvestotheverymischievousandcruelsortofabortionwhichiscalledbringingupachildinthewayitshouldgo。Nownobodyknowsthewayachildshouldgo。Allthewaysdiscoveredsofarleadtothehorrorsofourexistingcivilizations，describedquitejustifiablybyRuskinasheapsofagonizinghumanmaggots，strugglingwithoneanotherforscrapsoffood。Piousfraudisanattempttopervertthatpreciousandsacredthingthechild\'sconscienceintoaninstrumentofourownconvenience，andtousethatwonderfulandterriblepowercalledShametogrindourownaxe。Itisthesinofstealingfirefromthealtar:
asinsoimpudentlypractisedbypopes，parents，andpedagogues，thatonecanhardlyexpectthenurserymaidstoseeanyharminstealingafewcinderswhentheyareworrited。
Intotheblackestdepthsofthisviolationofchildren\'ssoulsonecanhardlybeartolook；forherewefindpiousfraudmaskingtheviolationofthebodybyobscenecruelty。Anyparentorschoolteacherwhotakesasecretandabominabledelightintortureisallowedtolaytrapsintowhicheverychildmustfall，andthenbeatittohisorherheart\'scontent。Agentlemanoncewrotetomeandsaid，withanobviousconvictionthathewasbeingmostreasonableandhighminded，thattheonlythinghebeathischildrenforwasfailureinperfectobedienceandperfecttruthfulness。Ontheseattributes，hesaid，hemustinsist。Asoneofthemisnotavirtueatall，andtheotheristheattributeofagod，onecanimaginewhatthelivesofthisgentleman\'schildrenwouldhavebeenifithadbeenpossibleforhimtolivedowntohismonstrousandfoolishpretensions。AndyethemighthavewrittenhislettertoTheTimes(heverynearlydid，bytheway)withoutincurringanydangerofbeingremovedtoanasylum，orevenlosinghisreputationfortakingaveryproperviewofhisparentalduties。Andatleastitwasnotatrivialview，noranillmeantone。Itwasmuchmorerespectablethanthegeneralconsensusofopinionthatifaschoolteachercandeviseaquestionachildcannotanswer，oroverhearitcallingomegaomeega，heorshemaybeatthechildviciously。Only，thecrueltymustbewhitewashedbyamoralexcuse，andapretenceofreluctance。Itmustbeforthechild\'sgood。Theassailantmustsay\"Thishurtsmemorethanithurtsyou。\"
Theremustbehypocrisyaswellascruelty。Theinjurytothechildwouldbefarlessifthevoluptuarysaidfrankly\"IbeatyoubecauseI
likebeatingyou；andIshalldoitwheneverIcancontriveanexcuseforit。\"ButtorepresentthisdetestablelusttothechildasDivinewrath，andthecrueltyasthebeneficentactofGod，whichisexactlywhatallourfloggersdo，istoaddtothetortureofthebody，outofwhichthefloggeratleastgetssomepleasure，themaimingandblindingofthechild\'ssoul，whichcanbringnothingbuthorrortoanyone。
TheManufactureofMonstersThisindustryisbynomeanspeculiartoChina。TheChinese(theysay)makephysicalmonsters。Werevilethemforitandproceedtomakemoralmonstersofourownchildren。Themostexcusableparentsarethosewhotrytocorrecttheirownfaultsintheiroffspring。Theparentwhosaystohischild:\"IamoneofthesuccessesoftheAlmighty:thereforeimitatemeineveryparticularorIwillhavetheskinoffyourback\"(aquitecommonattitude)isamuchmoreabsurdfigurethanthemanwho，withapipeinhismouth，thrasheshisboyforsmoking。Ifyoumustholdyourselfuptoyourchildrenasanobjectlesson(whichisnotatallnecessary)，holdyourselfupasawarningandnotasanexample。Butyouhadmuchbetterletthechild\'scharacteralone。IfyouonceallowyourselftoregardachildassomuchmaterialforyoutomanufactureintoanyshapethathappenstosuityourfancyyouaredefeatingtheexperimentoftheLifeForce。
Youareassumingthatthechilddoesnotknowitsownbusiness，andthatyoudo。Inthisyouaresuretobewrong:thechildfeelsthedriveoftheLifeForce(oftencalledtheWillofGod)；andyoucannotfeelitforhim。Handel\'sparentsnodoubtthoughttheyknewbetterthantheirchildwhentheytriedtopreventhisbecomingamusician。
Theywouldhavebeenequallywrongandequallyunsuccessfuliftheyhadtriedtopreventthechildbecomingagreatrascalhaditsgeniuslaininthatdirection。HandelwouldhavebeenHandel，andNapoleonandPeterofRussia_them_selvesinspiteofalltheparentsincreation，because，asoftenhappens，theywerestrongerthantheirparents。Butthisdoesnothappenalways。Mostchildrencanbe，andmanyare，hopelesslywarpedandwastedbyparentswhoareignorantandsillyenoughtosupposethattheyknowwhatahumanbeingoughttobe，andwhostickatnothingintheirdeterminationtoforcetheirchildrenintotheirmoulds。Everychildhasarighttoitsownbent。
IthasarighttobeaPlymouthBrotherthoughitsparentsbeconvincedatheists。Ithasarighttodislikeitsmotherorfatherorsisterorbrotheroruncleorauntiftheyareantipathetictoit。Ithasarighttofinditsownwayandgoitsownway，whetherthatwayseemswiseorfoolishtoothers，exactlyasanadulthas。Ithasarighttoprivacyastoitsowndoingsanditsownaffairsasmuchasifitwereitsownfather。
SmallandLargeFamiliesTheserightshavenowbecomemoreimportantthantheyusedtobe，becausethemodernpracticeoflimitingfamiliesenablesthemtobemoreeffectuallyviolated。Inafamilyoften，eight，six，orevenfourchildren，therightsoftheyoungeronestoagreatextenttakecareofthemselvesandoftherightsoftheelderonestoo。Twoadultparents，inspiteofahousetokeepandanincometoearn，canstillinterferetoadisastrousextentwiththerightsandlibertiesofonechild。Butbythetimeafourthchildhasarrived，theyarenotonlyoutnumberedtwotoone，butaregettingtiredofthethanklessandmischievousjobofbringinguptheirchildreninthewaytheythinktheyshouldgo。Theoldobservationthatmembersoflargefamiliesgetonintheworldholdsgoodbecauseinlargefamiliesitisimpossibleforeachchildtoreceivewhatschoolmasterscall\"individualattention。\"Thechildrenmayreceiveagooddealofindividualattentionfromoneanotherintheshapeofoutspokenreproach，ruthlessridicule，andviolentresistancetotheirattemptsataggression；buttheparentaldespotsarecompelledbythemultitudeoftheirsubjectstoresorttopoliticalratherthanpersonalrule，andtospreadtheirattemptsatmoralmonster-makingoversomanychildren，thateachchildhasenoughfreedom，andenoughsportintheprophylacticprocessoflaughingatitseldersbehindtheirbacks，toescapewithmuchlessdamagethanthesinglechild。Inalargeschoolthesystemmaybebad；butthepersonalinfluenceoftheheadmasterhastobeexerted，whenitisexertedatall，inapublicway，becausehehaslittlemorepowerofworkingontheaffectionsoftheindividualscholarintheintimatewaythat，forexample，themotherofasinglechildcan，thantheprimeministerhasofworkingontheaffectionsofanyindividualvoter。
ChildrenasNuisancesExperiencedparents，whenchildren\'srightsarepreachedtothem，verynaturallyaskwhetherchildrenaretobeallowedtodowhattheylike。
Thebestreplyistoaskwhetheradultsaretobeallowedtodowhattheylike。Thetwocasesarethesame。Theadultwhoisnastyisnotallowedtodowhathelikes:neithercanthechildwholikestobenasty。Thereisnodifferenceinprinciplebetweentherightsofachildandthoseofanadult:thedifferenceintheircasesisoneofcircumstance。Anadultisnotsupposedtobepunishedexceptbyprocessoflaw；nor，whenheissopunished，isthepersonwhomhehasinjuredallowedtoactasjudge，jury，andexecutioner。Itistruethatemployersdoactinthiswayeverydaytotheirworkpeople；butthisisnotajustifiedandintendedpartofthesituation:itisanabuseofCapitalismwhichnobodydefendsinprinciple。
Asbetweenchildandparentornurseitisnotarguedaboutbecauseitisinevitable。Youcannotholdanimpartialjudicialinquiryeverytimeachildmisbehavesitself。Toallowthechildtomisbehavewithoutinstantlymakingitunpleasantlyconsciousofthefactwouldbetospoilit。Theadulthasthereforetotakeactionofsomesortwithnothingbuthisconsciencetoshieldthechildfrominjusticeorunkindness。Theactionmaybeatorrentofscoldingculminatinginafurioussmackcausingterrorandpain，oritmaybearemonstrancecausingremorse，oritmaybeasarcasmcausingshameandhumiliation，oritmaybeasermoncausingthechildtobelievethatitisalittlereprobateontheroadtohell。Thechildhasnodefenceinanycaseexceptthekindnessandconscienceoftheadult；andtheadulthadbetternotforgetthis；foritinvolvesaheavyresponsibility。
Andnowcomesourdifficulty。Theresponsibility，beingsoheavy，cannotbedischargedbypersonsoffeeblecharacterorintelligence。
Andyetpeopleofhighcharacterandintelligencecannotbeplaguedwiththecareofchildren。Achildisarestless，noisylittleanimal，withaninsatiableappetiteforknowledge，andconsequentlyamaddeningpersistenceinaskingquestions。Ifthechildistoremainintheroomwithahighlyintelligentandsensitiveadult，itmustbetold，andifnecessaryforced，tositstillandnotspeak，whichisinjurioustoitshealth，unnatural，unjust，andthereforecruelandselfishbeyondtoleration。Consequentlythehighlyintelligentandsensitiveadulthandsthechildovertoanurserymaidwhohasnonervesandcanthereforestandmorenoise，butwhohasalsonoscruples，andmaythereforebeverybadcompanyforthechild。
Herewehavecometothecentralfactofthequestion:afactnobodyavows，whichisyetthetrueexplanationofthemonstroussystemofchildimprisonmentandtorturewhichwedisguiseundersuchhypocrisiesaseducation，training，formationofcharacterandtherestofit。Thisfactissimplythatachildisanuisancetoagrown-upperson。Whatismore，thenuisancebecomesmoreandmoreintolerableasthegrown-uppersonbecomesmorecultivated，moresensitive，andmoredeeplyengagedinthehighestmethodsofadultwork。Thechildatplayisnoisyandoughttobenoisy:SirIsaacNewtonatworkisquietandoughttobequiet。Andthechildshouldspendmostofitstimeatplay，whilsttheadultshouldspendmostofhistimeatwork。Iamnotnowwritingonbehalfofpersonswhocoddlethemselvesintoaridiculousconditionofnervousfeebleness，andatlastimaginethemselvesunabletoworkunderconditionsofbustle
whichtohealthypeoplearecheerfulandstimulating。Iamsurethatifpeoplehadtochoosebetweenlivingwherethenoiseofchildrenneverstoppedandwhereitwasneverheard，allthegoodnaturedandsoundpeoplewouldprefertheincessantnoisetotheincessantsilence。Butthatchoiceisnotthrustuponusbythenatureofthings。Thereisnoreasonwhychildrenandadultsshouldnotseejustasmuchofoneanotherasisgoodforthem，nomoreandnoless。Evenatpresentyouarenotcompelledtochoosebetweensendingyourchildtoaboardingschool(whichmeansgettingridofitaltogetheronmoreorlesshypocriticalpretences)andkeepingitcontinuallyathome。Mostworkingfolktodayeithersendtheirchildrentodayschoolsorturnthemoutofdoors。Thissolvestheproblemfortheparents。Itdoesnotsolveitforthechildren，anymorethanthetetheringofagoatinafieldorthechasingofanunlicenseddogintothestreetssolvesitforthegoat
orthedog；butitshewsthatinnoclassarepeoplewillingtoendurethesocietyoftheirchildren，andconsequentlythatitisanerrortobelievethatthefamilyprovideschildrenwithedifyingadultsociety，orthatthefamilyisasocialunit。Thefamilyisinthat，asinsomanyotherrespects，ahumbug。Oldpeopleandyoungpeoplecannotwalkatthesamepacewithoutdistressandfinallossofhealthtooneoftheparties。Whentheyaresittingindoorstheycannotendurethesamedegreesoftemperatureandthesamesuppliesoffreshair。Evenifthemainfactorsofnoise，restlessness，andinquisitivenessareleftoutofaccount，childrencanstandwithindifferencesights，sounds，smells，anddisordersthatwouldmakeanadultoffiftyutterlymiserable；whilstontheotherhandsuchadultsfindatranquilhappinessinconditionswhichtochildrenmeanunspeakableboredom。