Habits of judging will be
formed and strong moral convictions established which may be gradually
brought to influence and control action.
A good share of the influences that are thrown around an ordinary child
need to be counteracted. It can be done to a considerable extent _by
instruction_. Many of the interesting characters of history are better
company for us and for children than our neighbors and contemporaries.
For the purposes of moral example and inspiration we may select as
companions for them the best persons in history, provided we know how
to select for ourselves and others. Their acts are personal,
biographical, and interesting, and appeal at once to children as well
as to their elders. There is no good reason why a much greater number
of our school children should not be brought under the influence of the
best books suited to their age. Here is a source of educational
influence of high quality which is left too much to accident and to the
natural, unaided instinct of children. A few get the benefit but many
more are capable of receiving it. How much better the school choice
and treatment of such books may be than the loose and miscellaneous
reading of children, is discussed in Special Method.
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