“The Minds of Children”
John Locke writes, “I imagine the minds of children as easily turned, this or that way, as water itself; and though this be the principal part, and our main care should be about the inside, yet the cottage is not to be neglected.” The imagery of the mind portrays it as a gentle and elastic aspect which is guaranteed to be impacted by education and chastisement. Accordingly, the approaches of reprimands and education should consider their ramifications for the children’s minds.
The Imagery of “the Children’s Spirits”
John Locke explicates, “on the other side, if the mind be curbed, and humbled to much in children; if their spirits be abased and broken much, by too strict an hand over them; they lose all their vigour and industry, and are in a worse state than the former. For extravagant young fellows, that have liveliness and spirit, come sometimes to be set right, and so make able and great men: but dejected minds timorous and tame, and low spirits, are hardly ever to be raised, and very seldom attain to anything.” The children’ spirits are reliant on the nature of punishment that is utilized when castigating the baby; the spirit can either be little or buoyant. The optimal spirit should be at an equilibrium which is characterized by “easy, active, and free” temperament which teaches the child to resolve extreme spirits.
