Page:Comenius' School of Infancy.pdf/107

 assed with them, and will punish them as he thinks fit. Such parents, however, are surpassed in folly by those who, exciting terror for the teacher and dread for the school, drive their children there. This is done when parents or domestics incautiously declaim in the presence of children respecting scholastic punishments and the severity of teachers, and tell them that they will no longer be allowed to play, and the like, by saying, “I will send you to school; you shall be made gentle; they will beat you with rods; only wait a little,” etc. In this way occasion is given them, not for gentleness, but for greater ferocity, despair, and slavish fear towards schools and teachers.

3. Therefore prudent and pious parents, tutors, and guardians should act in this matter as follows: First, as the time for sending children to school draws near, they should endeavor to inspire them with pleasure, as if fair days and the vintage were approaching, when they will go to school along with other children, learn with them, and play with them. The father or mother may also promise them a very beautiful dress, an elegant cap, a polished tablet, a book, and the like; or they may occasionally show those things which they have ready for them. They ought not, however, to give them until the proper time, but only {{dhr|0.5em]]{{smallrefs}}