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Many parents as well as teachers refuse to place this…

“Many parents as well as teachers refuse to place this responsibility upon children for fear of the mistakes that they will make. On account of this fear they make it as nearly as possible unnecessary for children to judge freely, by giving them arbitrary rules to follow, or by directing them…” quote by Frank Morton McMurry
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““Many parents as well as teachers refuse to place this responsibility upon children for fear of the mistakes that they will make. On account of this fear they make it as nearly as possible unnecessary for children to judge freely, by giving them arbitrary rules to follow, or by directing them exactly what they shall do each moment. This cultivates poor judgment by depriving children of the very practice that will make their judgments reliable; it prevents the school requirements from corresponding to those in life outside.””

Frank Morton McMurry

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Children develop reliable judgment through practice; over‑protective rules hinder this growth.

In simple terms: Kids need freedom to learn judgment.

Key Takeaway

Allow kids to make choices and learn from mistakes.

Themes

education judgment parenting

Mood

concerned thoughtful

Type

advisory reflective

When to use this quote

  • classroom
  • home
  • extracurricular activities

Key Concepts

developmental psychology autonomy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we balance safety with judgment practice?
  • What safe boundaries support learning?
A Different Perspective

Too much freedom can lead to unsafe decisions without guidance.

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