Essay Questions

Why does John Locke endorse the incorporation of weather in ‘Education’?

John Locke recommends, “Another thing, that is of great advantage to everyone’s health, but especially children’s, is to be much in the open air, and very little, as may be, by the fire, even in the winter. By this he will accustom himself also to heat and cold, shine and rain; all of which if a man’s body will not endure, it will serve him to very little purpose in this world: and he when he is grown up, it is too late to being to sue him to it.” Here, Locker infers that it is imperative to edify children on the quintessence of being resilient. Satisfactory contact with ‘cold and heat’ amounts to valuable education vis-à-vis the extremes and obstacles of life which a developing child should be equipped to antagonize throughout his lifespan.

How does extreme chastisement affect the boy child’s later manhood?

Locke concedes, “For I am very apt to think, that great severity of punishment does but very little good; nay, great harm in education: and I believe it will be found, that, ceteris paribus, those children who have been most chastised, seldom make the best men. All that I have hitherto contended for, is, that whatsoever rigour is necessary, it is more to be used, the younger children are, and, having by a due application wrought its effect, it is to be relaxed.” Locke’s concession elucidates the psychological aftermath of undeserved reprimand of the children which triggers them to adopt feelings of marginal self-esteem. A child who is lacking self-esteem would not espouse a courageous mindset as a man.