Page:Comenius' School of Infancy.pdf/106



1. human affairs, to be properly transacted, require due reflection and preparation. This is noticed by the son of Sirach: “Preparation is demanded before prayer, before passing judgment, and before uttering a word, even though the question be quite obvious”; and certainly it is proper, that a creature who is a participator of reason should do nothing without reason and judgment, without prudence and circumspection, so as to reflect beforehand why he does certain things, and what may be the result or what may follow if done in this or any other way. Parents, therefore, ought not to hand over their children inconsiderately for instruction in schools, before they themselves seriously reflect what is suitable to be done in this matter, and thus to open the eyes of their children to look forward to the same.

2. Parents act imprudently who, with no preparation, lead their children to schools, as calves to market, or flocks to the herd. Afterwards the schoolmaster becomes har-