oyments
in order that they may have leisure to learn."--COMENIUS.

"The most critical interval of human nature is that between the
hour of birth and twelve years of age; this is the time when vice
and error may take root without our being possessed of any
instrument to destroy them; the first art of education, then,
consists neither in teaching virtue nor truth but in guarding the
heart from evil and the mind from error."--ROUSSEAU.

"A ladder leading to heaven is let down to every child, but he
must be taught to climb it. Education should decide for every
child not only what is to be made of its life, but should seek an
answer to the question, what was it intended that child should
become?"--PESTALOZZI.

"An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy."--OLD PROVERB.

"Come, let us live with our children!"--FROEBEL.

=Conditions to be Secured for Every Child.=--There are several
conditions which must be secured for every child to insure that it may
be born and reared according to high standards.

These may be listed as follows:

I. Two parents, to secure in advance a favorable social position.

II. A competent mother, to insure his first two or three years of
life in health, happiness, and growing power.

III. A competent father, to stand back of the mother and help make
a home adequate at least to the minimum of normal life's
demands.

IV. Community surroundings that will make possible the successful
achievement of parental duty.

V. Census provisions for vital and social statistics that will
make it sure that every child is counted in the population
of his nation, state, and community, and that he is
accounted for in all social relationships.

VI. State protection against industrial exploitation, vicious
influences, harmful use of leisure time, and generally
unwholesome conditions.

VII. Health standards in the community, fixed by experts and
maintained in essentials by public provisions.

VIII. Education standards, fixed by experts and maintained, at
least in normal minimum, by community provision.

IX. Such vital relation between the family, the school, the
political system, and all cultural opportunities as shall
insure to each child his just share of the social
inheritance to which all are heir.

=The Need for Two Parents.=--The first p