ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the study of the child's character. Children show from their earliest years the different dispositions to fear, anger and love, in varying degree, quite independent of their intellectual capacity, and sometimes all training fails in curbing the natural inclinations. Most people are ready to admit that the intellectual faculties and talents cannot be created by education, but some believe that the affective faculties are produced by the environment. Cupidity and greed are caused by general selfishness combined with the love of possession, and dishonesty is only the result of the absence of controlling motives. While some children are by nature frank and open, and some, who are lacking in moral sentiment at the same time, are secretive, insincere, cunning, and deceitful. When self-reliance is in excess, it may give rise to stubbornness and obstinacy. To cure these character defects by moral education, we must first of all remove all that cramps the soul of childhood.
