Developing a Healthy Personality, Through Education

Education is not merely, the transmission of facts, and the imparting information. The fundamental role of education, and one of its earliest and most important goals, is; to mold a healthy, productive individual; and to safeguard a person, against his own potential negative tendencies and offensive traits. This is especially true, of early childhood education.

On ones own, a person is not objective in evaluating his own characteristics. A person's inclination, and his own innate materialistic nature and self-love, often will "bribe" an individual, into a distorted view of his negative traits.

Proper education is therefore required, to help an individual cultivate and carefully focus his/her, introspective analysis.
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The earliest narrative related in Scripture, tells the story of the "Tree of Knowledge;" which was "desirable to the eyes," and therefore, was also assumed to be "good to eat" (Gen. 3:6).

As a result of the overpowering temptation, G-d's warning was disregarded, and as a result, death came to mankind. In other words, tempting pleasures, can often "blind" one's better judgment.
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Solomon, the wisest of men, taught us: He that spares his rod, hates his son: but he that loves him, chastises him early. (Proverbs 13:23).

This means, that effective education, and childhood training, must incorporate a strong approach, to form the positive personality of the individual, and to rid the child of "unsavory" dispositions.

Laxity in this area, would represent hatred for our children; and experience has shown, that those children who were not properly brought up, but were raised with a unguided upbringing; came back to their parents later, with serious complaints.

Eventually they blame their parents and teachers, for their personal behavior; and unmodified, negative inclinations and traits. In our era we know this a posteriori - from our own experience.
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This fundamental role of education, is not only pertinent in modifying the acquired characteristics and habits which a child picks up by "nurture;" but also in relation, to the inborn predispositions, which come to the child by his "nature."

Here, too, the child must be educated; and his natural conduct must be guided with positive involvement, on the part of the parents and of the educator.

For, if they wait for the child to mature on his own, and independently learn, to overcome his inclinations; in the interim, the child will cause harm to himself, and sometimes also to his surroundings.
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Education, is the best favor for the child.This vital principle of education is axiomatic. People are born with diverse natures; and education is always necessary, to set the person properly on his/her feet.

This applies to the training of good traits, as well as the modification of bad traits. Good tendencies in children must also be nurtured, directed and cultivated through proper education and training; for if not, the uneducated intellect can run amok, and go against its own good nature.

Ones actual conduct, will not match ones good tendencies. When a child has character traits which are undesirable, it is certainly the responsibility of the parents and teacher - those who love and really care for the child - to train the child and to guide his/her attributes.
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It is also self-evident, that the behavior modification must be followed through, despite the objections and arguments of the child that this trait is: (a) part of his "nature," or (b) that he is willing to suffer the consequences, or, (c) that there will be no negative results of his actions.

The necessary firmness, must obviously be applied, in order to be successful.

Just as if one has a piece of steel, that is bent; one needs to apply the required amount of force, in order to bend it back to being straight.
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All this holds true, in the normal course of growing up - evaluating and distinguishing the good and bad traits, and guiding the growth and maturity of the child.

There are times, however, when a child is born with a genetic deviation or deficiency, for example some emotional or mental disorders, which have symptoms such as "tearing out their own hair," "biting nails," "knocking their heads against a wall," or some other self-destructive traits.

It goes without saying, that one who loves and cares for this child, will do all he/she can to correct this self-destructive behavior; and seek a training plan, a learning module, or an educational framework, to cure this destructive problem.

When the child grows up and is cured, he will surely feel a sense of gratitude, to the ones who had "not spared the rod" of education, and had pulled all the stops to help his neg. behaviour.
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These universal principles of education, as applied to children, may also be adapted, when we speak of rehabilitating adults. They, too, can be educated, to modify their harmful traits; and they, too, will be eternally grateful, for such vitally important help.

Every person has the ability to choose "life." For some it is easier, and for others it is harder; but without doubt, if one so wills, he can overcome those traits, which are offensive or self-destructive.

Educators, therapists and counselors should keep in mind, that the possibility exists, to eventually correct the problems, even though the troubled client might vehemently claim (which might actually be quite true), that his deviations are inborn and part of his nature.

Experience has shown, that in the end they will express their eternal gratitude, for the firm direction and support they received, from family, counselors and friends.
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Free will is bestowed on every human being. If one desires to turn towards the good way and be righteous, he has the power to do so. If one wishes to turn towards the evil way and be wicked, he is at liberty to do so. (Laws of Repentance 5:1)

Consequently this true, free will, is decisively all-powerful. Yet, in the laws relating to Moral Disposition and Ethical Conduct, Every human being is characterized by numerous moral dispositions...exceedingly divergent.

One man is choleric, always hot-tempered; another sedate, never angry...one is a sensualist whose lusts are never gratified; another is so pure, that he does not even long for the few things, that our physical nature needs... stingy, generous, cruel, merciful, and so forth. (Laws of Ethical Conduct 1:1)

Of all the various dispositions, some belong to the beginning of his existence, and correspond to his physical constitution. (Ibid. 2)

In other words, some people are born with the nature of stinginess etc., and others are born with different natures! Does everyone really have free will, to freely choose right from wrong, even if it seems to be against his/her nature?!

This means to say that, although one may truly have an inclination and leaning by his very nature, and although he may show a propensity for certain conduct; none of these factors can "force" him to act in a particular way. He still has an absolutely free will!
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The ideal way, learn to control and overcome the offensive predispositions, is to be trained while still a child, by the strong and guiding hand, of the loving parent and educator.

But it is never late for this educational process to begin; a human being can always learn, improve and progress.
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Certain tendencies are more devastating, because they harm the body and the soul.There are those who argue, that an act which brings pleasure and gratification is, or even must be, good.

This rationalization is analogous to taking a deathly poison and coating it with sugar. Along comes someone and says, "I see sugar, there is no poison in this sugar pill." To prove his words, he tastes it, and swears it is sweet!

Someone else may come along and say, "I don't care if there is poison in the sugar, so long as I can enjoy the momentary pleasure of the sweetness, I don't care what the consequences will be!"

Certainly, they themselves will eventually very strongly complain against those who misled them; and also against those who saw what was going on, and did not do all that was possible to help them.
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An important point to stress is, that there is no insult intended, and no derogatory attitude is suggested; it is a case of healing a malady.

When a person is ill, and someone volunteers to help him get well, there is no disrespect involved, not at all!

But if the patient says that he is not ill, this in fact indicates, how serious his malady really is; and how deeply it has penetrated into his body and psyche. And so, special action must be undertaken to heal the person, and save his life.

And again, there is no insult at all, no disrespect involved, only a true desire to really help.
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In G-d's world of goodness and justice, when one comes to purify and be purified, he is assisted from Above. Despite the the past, everyone has the capacity to change. People who open their eyes and realize their error, will in the end, realize the truth.
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Not to help, is taking away ones right to be protected (also - from themselves); it is depriving one of their vitally needed help!

It also will bring even more suffering and pain to them, to their loved ones, and to all society.
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In every society where the norms of justice and righteousness are followed, if someone climbs up on a bridge, and intends to commit suicide by jumping into the river; the alarm is sounded, and the police, fire fighters, and "negotiation teams" are called in; and they use every means at their disposal, to stop the person from killing himself.

As time goes by and the person who threatened suicide calms down; he is very thankful, to say the least, to all those who have taken away his "right" to commit suicide.

This subject is really an elementary one, and all nationalities and peoples, can find common ground here.