Day 45 Conduct

Aline Gauguin and One of Her Brothers," Paul Gauguin "

                                                    (see also Being Good)

“As a matter of fact, marks of any sort, even for conduct, distract the attention of children from their proper work, which is in itself interesting enough to secure good behaviour as well as attention.”

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“Is the distinction between being free to choose the right at one's own option, and not free to do the wrong, too subtle to be grasped, too elusive to be practical? It may be so, but it is precisely the distinction which we are aware of in our own lives so far as we keep ourselves consciously under the divine governance. We are free to go in the ways of right living, and have the happy sense of liberty of choice, but the ways of transgressors are hard. We are aware of a restraining hand in the present, and of sure and certain retribution in the future. Just this delicate poise is to be aimed at for the child. He must be treated with full confidence, and must feel that right-doing is his own free choice, which his parents trust him to make; but he must also be very well aware of the deterrent force in the background, watchful to hinder him when he would do wrong.” 

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                  “His Faults are not the Whole of a Person.”
 
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“But the one achievement possible and necessary for every man is character; and character is as finely wrought metal beaten into shape and beauty by the repeated and accustomed action of will. We who teach should make it clear to ourselves that our aim in education is less conduct than character; conduct may be arrived at, as we have seen, by indirect routes, but it is of value to the world only as it has its source in character.”
 
 
Examen:  What are some “indirect routes” to a child’s good behaviour?  What is the child’s “proper work?” Is there someone I am thinking poorly about based on past behaviour? 

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As a matter of:  Charlotte M. Mason, Home Education, 1:144.
Is the distinction: Charlotte M. Mason, School Education, 3:32.
His faults are:  Charlotte M. Mason, Ourselves, 4:92 Bk.I.
But the one achievement:  Charlotte M. Mason,  Towards a Philosophy of Education, 6:129.
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​Day 45 Conduct meditation/100 Days copyright Laurie Bestvater 2025

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