第1章

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。