第51章 预备入学
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第51章 预备入学
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chap. 51 - Preparing for School
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头八年或十年－－儿童不宜关在室内；他们在身体发育尚未奠定良好的基础之前，不宜过分专注于学习。对于八岁或十岁以前的儿童，最好的课堂是田野或花园，最好的教师是母亲，最好的课本是大自然。即使儿童到了入学的年龄，也要将自己的健康看得比书本知识更加重要。他应当处在最适于体力与智力成长的环境里。（一）{CG 300.1}[1]
§4
The First Eight or Ten Years.--Children should not be long confined within doors, nor should they be required to apply themselves closely to study until a good foundation has been laid for physical development. For the first eight or ten years of a childs life the field or garden is the best schoolroom, the mother the best teacher, nature the best lesson book. Even when the child is old enough to attend school, his health should be regarded as of greater importance than a knowledge of books. He should be surrounded with the conditions most favorable to both physical and mental growth. {CG 300.1}[1]
§5
往往儿童在很小时就被送进学校。他们必须学习年幼的心智难以负担的功课。……这种做法是不智的。一个神经衰弱的孩子，决不可负担过重。（二）{CG 300.2}[2]
§6
It is customary to send very young children to school. They are required to study from books things that tax their young minds. . . . This course is not wise. A nervous child should not be overtaxed in any direction. {CG 300.2}[2]
§7
幼儿期的教育－－在儿童的头六七年的时间里，对体育的特别重视要超过智育。此后若体格良好，就要注意两方面的教育。婴儿期延伸到六七岁。在此之前，应当让儿童象小羊那样，在屋子周围或院子里玩耍，蹦蹦跳跳，无忧无虑，活泼自在。{CG 300.3}[3]
§8
The Childs Program During Infancy.--During the first six or seven years of a childs life, special attention should be given to its physical training, rather than the intellect. After this period, if the physical constitution is good, the education of both should receive attention. Infancy extends to the age of six or seven years. Up to this period children should be left, like little lambs, to roam around the house and in the yards, in the buoyancy of their spirits, skipping and jumping, free from care and trouble. {CG 300.3}[3]
§9
父母，特别是母亲，应该是这些小孩子唯一的教师。不要用书本来教导他们。孩子一般喜欢从自然界的景物中学习。他们喜爱对耳闻目睹的事物提问。父母应利用这种机会进行教育，耐心地回答那些小问题。他们在这方面比仇敌更占优势，可将好种撒在儿童的心田中，加强他们的心志，不让恶种有生根的余地。儿童在幼稚年代所需要的，是母亲的亲切教导，以塑造品格。（三）{CG 300.4}[4]
§10
Parents, especially mothers, should be the only teachers of such infant minds. They should not educate from books. The children generally will be inquisitive to learn the things of nature. They will ask questions in regard to things they see and hear, and parents should improve the opportunity to instruct and patiently answer those little inquiries. They can in this manner get the advantage of the enemy and fortify the minds of their children by sowing good seed in their hearts, leaving no room for the bad to take root. The mothers loving instruction at a tender age is what is needed by children in the formation of character. {CG 300.4}[4]
§11
过渡时期的教育－－母亲应当成为教师。每一个儿童都应在家庭学校中，接受启蒙教育。这些功课应当包括勤劳的习惯。母亲们哪，要让小孩子在露天玩耍，倾听鸟儿的歌声，学习上帝在祂美丽创作中所显示的爱心。要从大自然的课本，和他们周围的事物中，教导他们简单的课题。当他们的心智稍有扩展的时候，就可以增加书本的功课，使他们牢牢记住。但即使在他们还很小的时候，也当使他们学习做有用处的人。要训练他们认识到：作为家庭的一员，他应当有兴趣帮助分担家庭的担子。要在完成必要的家务中，寻求有益于健康的活动。（四）{CG 301.1}[5]
§12
Lessons During the Transition Period.--The mother should be the teacher, and home the school where every child receives his first lessons; and these lessons should include habits of industry. Mothers, let the little ones play in the open air; let them listen to the songs of the birds and learn the love of God as expressed in His beautiful works. Teach them simple lessons from the book of nature and the things about them; and as their minds expand, lessons from books may be added and firmly fixed in the memory. But let them also learn, even in their earliest years, to be useful. Train them to think that, as members of the household, they are to act an interested, helpful part in sharing the domestic burdens, and to seek healthful exercise in the performance of necessary home duties. {CG 301.1}[5]
§13
不一定是痛苦的过程－－这种训练对于儿童有无法形容的价值，而且这也不一定是痛苦的过程。我们教育孩子的方法可以使他们从学习帮助别人中找到乐趣。母亲在教导孩子履行小小的家庭义务，小小的爱心服务时，能使他们感到快乐。母亲的工作乃是耐心地教导儿女，命上加命，律上加律，这里一点，那里一点。在这项工作中，母亲自己也会得到宝贵的训练和造就。（五）{CG 301.2}[6]
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It Need Not Be a Painful Process.--Such a training is of untold value to a child, and this training need not be a painful process. It can be so given that the child will find pleasure in learning to be helpful. Mothers can amuse their children while teaching them to perform little offices of love, little home duties. This is the mothers work--patiently to instruct her children, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. And in doing this work, the mother herself will gain an invaluable training and discipline. {CG 301.2}[6]
§15
同学可能会败坏品德－－不要太早把你们的小孩子送到学校去。母亲在把幼儿的心智交给别人去塑造的事上要谨慎。（六）{CG 302.1}[7]
§16
Morals Imperiled by School Associates.--Do not send your little ones to school too early. The mother should be careful how she trusts the molding of the infant mind to other hands. {CG 302.1}[7]
§17
许多母亲觉得自己没有时间教导儿女。为了把他们打发开，摆脱他们的吵闹和骚扰，就把他们送到学校。……{CG 302.2}[8]
§18
Many mothers feel that they have not time to instruct their children, and in order to get them out of the way, and get rid of their noise and trouble, they send them to school. . . . {CG 302.2}[8]
§19
过早地把儿女送进学校，不仅有害于他们的身心健康，从道德的角度来看，也是得不偿失的。他们在那里有机会与教养不良的儿童结识。他们与粗俗不雅的人交往。那些人会撒谎、漫骂、偷窍和欺骗，喜欢向比自己年轻的人传授邪恶的知识。儿童若听任不管，就会学坏容易学好难。人的天性易于污染恶习。在婴幼儿时期的所见所闻，会深深地铭刻在他们心中。撒在幼嫩心田中的恶种，会生根茁长，成为尖锐的荆棘，刺伤父母的心。（七）{CG 302.3}[9]
§20
Not only has the physical and mental health of children been endangered by being sent to school at too early a period, but they have been the losers in a moral point of view. They have had opportunities to become acquainted with children who were uncultivated in their manners. They were thrown into the society of the coarse and rough, who lie, swear, steal and deceive, and who delight to impart their knowledge of vice to those younger than themselves. Young children, if left to themselves, learn the bad more readily than the good. Bad habits agree best with the natural heart, and the things which they see and hear in infancy and childhood are deeply imprinted upon their minds; and the bad seed sown in their young hearts will take root and will become sharp thorns to wound the hearts of their parents. {CG 302.3}[9]