Childhood Education

In my Humanities class right now, we are reading essays by Rousseau, a French philosopher. One that I've really enjoyed is his essay titled "Emile," in which he discusses childhood education.

The reason I love it is because he talks so much about home and family involvement in teaching a child, which I am a HUGE supporter of. He says, "...when mothers deign to nurture their own children, then morals will reform themselves, natural feeling will revive in every heart, the state will be repopulated...When the family is lively and animated domestic cares become the most cherished occupation of the wife and the sweetest amusement of the husband...Once women become mothers again, men will become husbands and fathers." I love that! Growing up in my home was so great because it really was a haven from the trials and cares of the world.

I love that he also says that we should let children be children. Parents shouldn't force them to grow up too fast, to be involved in too many things, or expect too much of them. "Do not prepare yourself for regrets by robbing them of the few moments which nature has given to them. As soon as they are aware of the pleasures of existence, let them rejoice in it; make it so that whenever God calls them they will not die without having tasted life...Nature wants children to be children before they are men. If we try to pervert this order we shall produce a forced fruit that will have neither ripeness nor flavor and that will soon spoil."

Anyway, I just really enjoyed reading this essay. I love that, even though it was written in 1762, it has so many points that are still applicable today.